Mathematicians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $170,010 or more. The middle half of mathematicians in Chicago earn between $109,660 and $130,970.
- $49K10th
- $110K25th
- $131KMedian
- $131K75th
- $170K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $123,510 | $10,292 | $59.38 |
| Median | $130,970 | $10,914 | $62.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $109,660 | $9,138 | $52.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,970 | $10,914 | $62.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mathematicians pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Mathematicians in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($121,990) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($129,260). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $126,710.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $123,510 | $130,970 | $49,190 | $170,010 | 60 |
| Illinois | $121,990 | $130,970 | $49,190 | $170,010 | 60 |
| United States | $129,260 | $126,710 | $69,240 | $195,190 | 2,030 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mathematicians salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $123,510, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $89,712 a year, or $7,476 a month and $3,450 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 | $92,010 | $7,667 |
| Working in IL | $89,712 | $7,476 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for mathematicians? 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 $123,510 buys what about $119,224 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 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Mathematicians salary in nearby metro areas
- Washington, DC$157,500
- New York, NY$144,880
- Providence, RI$115,200
- Boston, MA$103,600
- Las Vegas, NV$101,850
- San Diego, CA$144,930
Highest-paying cities for mathematicians
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($167,380).
- Seattle, WA$167,380
- Washington, DC$157,500
- San Diego, CA$144,930
- New York, NY$144,880
- Chicago, IL$123,510
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Mathematicians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do mathematicians make an hour in Chicago?
$59.38 an hour on average, and $62.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mathematicians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $109,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mathematicians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $89,712 a year ($7,476 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $123,510.
Do mathematicians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($129,260).
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 15-2021; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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