Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary
The median pay for a medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $83,240/year ($40.02/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $144K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $80,355 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $83K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About medical scientists, except epidemiologists
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Pay for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $103K. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana | $85K | $92K |
| Peoria | $76K | $84K |
| Springfield | $82K | $89K |
| St. Louis | $103K | $109K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level medical scientists, except epidemiologists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $144K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $137K | +32% | 29,830 |
| New Jersey | $129K | +25% | 6,120 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +24% | 17,100 |
| Connecticut | $117K | +13% | 2,410 |
| Arizona | $117K | +13% | 2,190 |
| Oregon | $111K | +7% | 1,030 |
| Maryland | $106K | +3% | 6,760 |
| Washington | $106K | +2% | 6,150 |
| Alaska | $105K | +1% | 260 |
| Rhode Island | $103K | -0% | 670 |
| North Carolina | $103K | -0% | 5,730 |
| Tennessee | $103K | -1% | 4,020 |
| Missouri | $103K | -1% | 3,650 |
| Montana | $102K | -1% | 320 |
| District of Columbia | $102K | -1% | 670 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | -3% | 210 |
| Delaware | $100K | -3% | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $99K | -4% | 12,630 |
| Nevada | $99K | -5% | 530 |
| Florida | $95K | -8% | 6,490 |
| Maine | $94K | -9% | 100 |
| Virginia | $94K | -9% | 4,560 |
| Georgia | $92K | -11% | 1,910 |
| Minnesota | $90K | -13% | 6,760 |
| New York | $88K | -15% | 7,690 |
| Kansas | $84K | -18% | 1,070 |
| Michigan | $84K | -18% | 2,370 |
| Ohio | $84K | -19% | 4,840 |
| Iowa | $84K | -19% | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $83K | -20% | 380 |
| Utah | $83K | -20% | 1,560 |
| West Virginia | $83K | -20% | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $83K | -20% | 2,970 |
| Illinois | $82K | -20% | 4,700 |
| Indiana | $81K | -22% | 2,010 |
| Nebraska | $81K | -22% | 620 |
| South Dakota | $81K | -22% | 140 |
| Texas | $80K | -22% | 11,920 |
| Kentucky | $78K | -25% | 670 |
| Oklahoma | $76K | -26% | 920 |
| Arkansas | $73K | -30% | 230 |
| Alabama | $68K | -34% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $67K | -35% | 340 |
| Vermont | $67K | -36% | 110 |
| North Dakota | $64K | -38% | 250 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -48% | 440 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a medical scientists, except epidemiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical scientists, except epidemiologists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,870/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical scientists, except epidemiologist a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $83K here vs. $103K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do medical scientists, except epidemiologists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $83,240 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,500, and experienced medical scientists, except epidemiologists can clear $143,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,235/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 34% 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 medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary is worth about $80,355 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical scientists, except epidemiologists 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.