Physicians, Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a physicians, pathologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $336,660/year ($161.86/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $193K at the entry level to $547K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $324,993 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 9.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $337K 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 physicians, pathologists
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Physicians, pathologists pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $337K locally vs. $312K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,781/month, 9.7% 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 physicians, pathologists in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $330K | $355K |
| St. Louis | $207K | $218K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $342K | $357K |
| Kansas City | $224K | $242K |
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 physicians, pathologists (10th percentile) start around $193K. Mid-career wages sit at $337K. Top earners bring in $547K or more, a $353K spread from bottom to top.
Physicians, Pathologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Physicians, Pathologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $413K | +32% | 210 |
| West Virginia | $400K | +28% | 50 |
| Nevada | $384K | +23% | 40 |
| Illinois | $382K | +22% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $362K | +16% | 550 |
| New Jersey | $356K | +14% | 230 |
| Texas | $346K | +11% | 1,530 |
| Indiana | $340K | +9% | 380 |
| Arizona | $338K | +8% | 270 |
| Kentucky | $324K | +4% | N/A |
| Iowa | $323K | +4% | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $323K | +3% | N/A |
| New York | $322K | +3% | 1,220 |
| Oklahoma | $318K | +2% | 130 |
| Florida | $314K | +0% | 370 |
| Ohio | $309K | -1% | 600 |
| Michigan | $303K | -3% | 140 |
| Washington | $301K | -4% | 200 |
| Colorado | $295K | -6% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $285K | -9% | 320 |
| Missouri | $262K | -16% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $262K | -16% | 50 |
| Maryland | $254K | -19% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $249K | -20% | 340 |
| Virginia | $241K | -23% | 110 |
| South Carolina | $237K | -24% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $229K | -27% | 90 |
| Kansas | $224K | -28% | 30 |
| Arkansas | $214K | -31% | 130 |
| Georgia | $212K | -32% | 170 |
| Vermont | $188K | -40% | N/A |
| California | $186K | -40% | 1,790 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | -73% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 33 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physicians, pathologists 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 physicians, pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $337K, rent takes 9.7% 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 physicians, pathologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicians, pathologists typically earn — is $193K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $11,594/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 15% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physicians, pathologist a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $337K locally vs. $312K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for physicians, pathologists?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $337K median vs. the U.S. average of $312K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $325K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physicians, pathologists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $336,660 a year, that works out to about $162 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $193,230, and experienced physicians, pathologists can clear $546,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $337K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $18,403/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 9.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physicians, pathologists 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 physicians, pathologists salary is worth about $324,993 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physicians, pathologists 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.