Life Scientists, All Other Salary
Life Scientists, All Others in Illinois make a median of $66,190 a year, or about $31.82 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $70,527 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 32.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Illinois?
About life scientists, all others
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What this looks like in Illinois
Pay for life scientists, all other in Illinois runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $94K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level life scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Life Scientists, All Other salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $71K | +7% | 110 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a life scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 32.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for life scientists, all others in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new life scientists, all others typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,167/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is life scientists, all other a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $66K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for life scientists, all others?
Illinois pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do life scientists, all others make in Illinois?
The median is $66,190 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,790, and experienced life scientists, all others can clear $75,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,306/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 32.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a life scientists, all other salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median life scientists, all other salary is worth about $70,527 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do life scientists, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.