Political Scientists Salary
The median pay for a political scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $103,780/year ($49.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $100,183 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 27.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $104K 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 political scientists
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Pay for political scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $142K. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level political scientists (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Political Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Political Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $153K | +8% | 100 |
| District of Columbia | $153K | +7% | 3,070 |
| Washington | $147K | +4% | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $140K | -1% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $134K | -6% | 170 |
| Colorado | $127K | -10% | 30 |
| Oregon | $119K | -16% | N/A |
| Ohio | $119K | -16% | 40 |
| Texas | $114K | -20% | 160 |
| Arizona | $109K | -23% | 50 |
| Illinois | $104K | -27% | 110 |
| Michigan | $86K | -39% | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $75K | -48% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 13 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track political scientists 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 political scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 28% 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 political scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political scientists typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,101/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is political scientist a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $104K here vs. $142K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for political scientists?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $142K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — below the national median.
How much do political scientists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $103,780 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,020, and experienced political scientists can clear $143,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,355/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 28% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a political scientists 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 political scientists salary is worth about $100,183 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do political scientists 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.