Epidemiologists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $138,800 or more. The middle half of epidemiologists in Chicago earn between $80,230 and $106,230.
- $66K10th
- $80K25th
- $104KMedian
- $106K75th
- $139K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,680 | $8,307 | $47.92 |
| Median | $103,780 | $8,648 | $49.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,230 | $6,686 | $38.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,230 | $8,852 | $51.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Epidemiologists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Epidemiologists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($97,690) and about the same as the U.S. average ($97,890). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $87,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $99,680 | $103,780 | $65,570 | $138,800 | 210 |
| Illinois | $97,690 | $102,720 | $65,570 | $138,800 | 240 |
| United States | $97,890 | $87,220 | $61,270 | $138,800 | 12,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Epidemiologists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $99,680, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $74,162 a year, or $6,180 a month and $2,852 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 | $75,994 | $6,333 |
| Working in IL | $74,162 | $6,180 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for epidemiologists? 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 $99,680 buys what about $96,221 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Epidemiologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Madison, WI$95,380
- Indianapolis, IN$79,950
- Lansing, MI$80,920
- Ann Arbor, MI$77,360
- Detroit, MI$96,070
- St. Louis, MO$75,580
Highest-paying cities for epidemiologists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($140,680).
- San Francisco, CA$140,680
- Boston, MA$132,490
- Seattle, WA$126,450
- Las Vegas, NV$117,930
- Sacramento, CA$115,120
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Epidemiologists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do epidemiologists make an hour in Chicago?
$47.93 an hour on average, and $49.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level epidemiologists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the epidemiologists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $74,162 a year ($6,180 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,680.
Do epidemiologists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($97,890).
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 19-1041; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
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