Food Scientists and Technologists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $173,750 or more. The middle half of food scientists and technologists in Chicago earn between $76,970 and $130,910.
- $66K10th
- $77K25th
- $100KMedian
- $131K75th
- $174K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $108,070 | $9,006 | $51.96 |
| Median | $100,390 | $8,366 | $48.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,970 | $6,414 | $37.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,910 | $10,909 | $62.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Food scientists and technologists in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($103,030) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($95,360). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $88,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $108,070 | $100,390 | $65,810 | $173,750 | 610 |
| Illinois | $103,030 | $94,340 | $63,730 | $166,670 | 780 |
| United States | $95,360 | $88,720 | $52,920 | $145,280 | 13,060 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $108,070, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $79,649 a year, or $6,637 a month and $3,063 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 | $81,645 | $6,804 |
| Working in IL | $79,649 | $6,637 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for food scientists and technologists? 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 $108,070 buys what about $104,320 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$94,160
- Madison, WI$78,900
- Grand Rapids, MI$84,260
- Indianapolis, IN$73,260
- Lansing, MI$84,070
- Ann Arbor, MI$100,270
Highest-paying cities for food scientists and technologists
Boston, MA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($120,200).
- Boston, MA$120,200
- San Jose, CA$117,020
- Washington, DC$113,320
- San Francisco, CA$110,580
- New York, NY$110,190
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Food Scientists and Technologists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do food scientists and technologists make an hour in Chicago?
$51.96 an hour on average, and $48.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food scientists and technologists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food scientists and technologists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $79,649 a year ($6,637 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $108,070.
Do food scientists and technologists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($95,360).
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 19-1012; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 1.62, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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