Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
The median pay for a physical scientists, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $121,720/year ($58.52/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $117,502 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 24.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $122K 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 physical scientists, all others
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Physical scientists, all other pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $122K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,781/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 physical scientists, all others in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $67K | $70K |
| Lexington-Fayette | $68K | $73K |
| Madison | $96K | $98K |
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 physical scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $102K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Scientists, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Physical Scientists, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $157K | +28% | 790 |
| Minnesota | $148K | +21% | 540 |
| North Dakota | $148K | +20% | 70 |
| Maryland | $141K | +15% | 1,810 |
| South Carolina | $141K | +15% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $138K | +13% | 350 |
| Georgia | $138K | +12% | 1,020 |
| Alabama | $135K | +10% | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $135K | +10% | 460 |
| Colorado | $134K | +10% | 710 |
| Washington | $134K | +9% | 450 |
| Florida | $132K | +7% | 340 |
| California | $131K | +7% | 2,320 |
| Tennessee | $130K | +6% | 120 |
| Arizona | $125K | +2% | 170 |
| New Mexico | $124K | +1% | 240 |
| Alaska | $120K | -2% | 140 |
| Michigan | $119K | -3% | 130 |
| New York | $118K | -4% | 1,510 |
| Utah | $116K | -5% | 250 |
| Hawaii | $113K | -8% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $112K | -8% | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $112K | -8% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $110K | -10% | 650 |
| New Jersey | $110K | -10% | 590 |
| Oregon | $110K | -11% | 290 |
| Illinois | $109K | -11% | 580 |
| Mississippi | $109K | -11% | 380 |
| Ohio | $109K | -11% | 430 |
| Nebraska | $101K | -17% | 40 |
| Texas | $101K | -18% | 2,310 |
| Connecticut | $100K | -18% | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $97K | -20% | 70 |
| Montana | $95K | -23% | 100 |
| Louisiana | $94K | -23% | 280 |
| Kentucky | $81K | -34% | 260 |
| Iowa | $81K | -34% | 100 |
| Wyoming | $69K | -44% | 60 |
| Indiana | $69K | -44% | 1,240 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physical scientists, all other 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 physical scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical scientists, all others in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical scientists, all others typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,099/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physical scientists, all other a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $122K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for physical scientists, all others?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $118K — below the national median.
How much do physical scientists, all others make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $121,720 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,310, and experienced physical scientists, all others can clear $170,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,327/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 24.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physical scientists, all other 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 physical scientists, all other salary is worth about $117,502 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical 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.