Natural Sciences Managers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $293,270 or more. The middle half of natural sciences managers in Chicago earn between $126,770 and $216,000.
- $87K10th
- $127K25th
- $167KMedian
- $216K75th
- $293K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $174,760 | $14,563 | $84.02 |
| Median | $167,040 | $13,920 | $80.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $126,770 | $10,564 | $60.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $216,000 | $18,000 | $103.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Natural Sciences Managers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Natural sciences managers in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($167,700) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($180,250). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $167,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $174,760 | $167,040 | $87,010 | $293,270 | 2,270 |
| Illinois | $167,700 | $159,670 | $85,210 | $281,660 | 2,810 |
| United States | $180,250 | $167,220 | $79,710 | $316,850 | 108,690 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Natural Sciences Managers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $174,760, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $122,205 a year, or $10,184 a month and $4,700 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 | $125,502 | $10,458 |
| Working in IL | $122,205 | $10,184 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for natural sciences managers? 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 $174,760 buys what about $168,695 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Natural Sciences Managers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$174,760
- Springfield$120,800
- Champaign$115,080
Highest-paying cities for natural sciences managers
Boston, MA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($260,090).
- Boston, MA$260,090
- San Jose, CA$252,350
- San Francisco, CA$249,930
- Worcester, MA$231,760
- New Haven, CT$228,050
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Natural Sciences Managers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do natural sciences managers make an hour in Chicago?
$84.02 an hour on average, and $80.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level natural sciences managers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $126,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the natural sciences managers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $122,205 a year ($10,184 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $174,760.
Do natural sciences managers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($180,250).
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 11-9121; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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