Data Scientists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $168,880 or more. The middle half of data scientists in Chicago earn between $84,600 and $138,210.
- $71K10th
- $85K25th
- $108KMedian
- $138K75th
- $169K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $118,860 | $9,905 | $57.14 |
| Median | $107,640 | $8,970 | $51.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,600 | $7,050 | $40.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $138,210 | $11,518 | $66.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Data Scientists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Data scientists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($117,870) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($126,800). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $120,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $118,860 | $107,640 | $70,740 | $168,880 | 7,940 |
| Illinois | $117,870 | $106,560 | $68,810 | $168,880 | 10,520 |
| United States | $126,800 | $120,230 | $67,240 | $199,130 | 262,440 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Data Scientists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $118,860, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $86,706 a year, or $7,225 a month and $3,335 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $88,912 | $7,409 |
| Working in IL | $86,706 | $7,225 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for data scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $118,860 buys what about $114,735 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Data Scientists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 6 Illinois metro areas for this job; Bloomington pays the most ($127,590).
- Bloomington$127,590
- Chicago$118,860
- Peoria$117,620
- Champaign$99,830
- Rockford$98,230
- Springfield$97,280
Highest-paying cities for data scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($212,760).
- San Jose, CA$212,760
- San Francisco, CA$174,830
- Seattle, WA$160,460
- Idaho Falls, ID$159,110
- Kennewick, WA$157,380
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Data Scientists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do data scientists make an hour in Chicago?
$57.15 an hour on average, and $51.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level data scientists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the data scientists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $86,706 a year ($7,225 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $118,860.
Do data scientists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($126,800).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-2051; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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