Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $540,320 or more. The middle half of atmospheric and space scientists in Chicago earn between $105,590 and $162,410.
- $91K10th
- $106K25th
- $133KMedian
- $162K75th
- $540K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $182,890 | $15,241 | $87.93 |
| Median | $133,490 | $11,124 | $64.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $105,590 | $8,799 | $50.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $162,410 | $13,534 | $78.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Atmospheric and space scientists in Chicago earn 24% more than the Illinois average ($147,860) and 72% more than the U.S. average ($106,110). At the median the gap is +35% against the U.S. median of $99,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $182,890 | $133,490 | $91,070 | $540,320 | 50 |
| Illinois | $147,860 | $112,280 | $51,710 | $211,910 | 110 |
| United States | $106,110 | $99,070 | $53,060 | $161,890 | 10,000 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $182,890, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $127,359 a year, or $10,613 a month and $4,898 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 | $130,815 | $10,901 |
| Working in IL | $127,359 | $10,613 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for atmospheric and space 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 $182,890 buys what about $176,543 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 1.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$79,330
- Madison, WI$108,200
- Indianapolis, IN$130,690
- Detroit, MI$126,280
- St. Louis, MO$106,170
- Louisville, KY$113,630
Highest-paying cities for atmospheric and space scientists
Chicago, IL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($182,890).
- Chicago, IL$182,890
- New York, NY$172,010
- San Francisco, CA$164,020
- Albany, NY$130,860
- Indianapolis, IN$130,690
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Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make an hour in Chicago?
$87.93 an hour on average, and $64.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level atmospheric and space scientists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $105,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the atmospheric and space scientists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $127,359 a year ($10,613 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $182,890.
Do atmospheric and space scientists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 72% more than the U.S. average for this job ($106,110).
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 19-2021; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 17.6%.
- 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 0.19, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.19).
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