Natural Sciences Managers Salary
In Illinois, natural sciences managers earn $159,670 at the median, or about $76.77 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $282K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $170,133 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 14.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $160K get you in Illinois?
About natural sciences managers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Natural sciences managers pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $160K locally vs. $167K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 15.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 natural sciences managers (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $160K. Top earners bring in $282K or more, a $196K spread from bottom to top.
Natural Sciences Managers salary by metro in Illinois
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $167K | +5% | 2,270 |
| Springfield | $122K | -23% | 40 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $108K | -33% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track natural sciences managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a natural sciences manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $160K, rent takes 15.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for natural sciences managers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new natural sciences managers typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,113/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is natural sciences manager a high-paying job in Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $160K locally vs. $167K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for natural sciences managers?
Illinois pays $160K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $170K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do natural sciences managers make in Illinois?
The median is $159,670 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,210, and experienced natural sciences managers can clear $281,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $160K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,332/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 15.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a natural sciences managers 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 natural sciences managers salary is worth about $170,133 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do natural sciences managers 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.