Chemists Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$60,740
- 25th Percentile — Junior$71,160
- 50th Percentile — Median$85,230
- 75th Percentile — Senior$123,290
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$141,310
Half of Chemists in Illinois earn more than $85,230. The top 10% make $141,310 or more, while entry-level workers start around $60,740.
Chemists in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 22nd of 51 states for Chemists pay, at $98,420 per year (2.0% below the U.S. average of $100,450).
- 3,040 people work as Chemists in Illinois — 3.7% of all U.S. Chemists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.94: Chemists jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $60,740; the top 10% earn over $141,310.
- Hourly equivalent: $47.32 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $148,840.
- Among science jobs in Illinois, Atmospheric and Space Scientists pays the most ($147,860).
Chemists Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Chemists here earn $98,420 on average, placing the state 22nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $98,420 is roughly equivalent to $93,733 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Michigan ($101,210), New York ($100,920), New Hampshire ($99,570) are the closest alternatives for Chemists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $147,860/yr Illinois +50.2% vs this role
- Sociologists $143,940/yr Illinois +46.3% vs this role
- Physicists $139,780/yr Illinois +42.0% vs this role
- Materials Scientists $129,980/yr Illinois +32.1% vs this role
- Geoscientists $109,290/yr Illinois +11.0% vs this role
- Food Scientists and Technologists $103,030/yr Illinois +4.7% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $102,640/yr Illinois +4.3% vs this role
- Urban and Regional Planners $97,270/yr Illinois 1.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Chemists salary in Illinois?
The average Chemists salary in Illinois is $98,420 per year (median $85,230), which is 2.0% below the national average of $100,450.
How does Illinois rank for Chemists pay?
Illinois ranks 22nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($148,840/yr).
How much do entry-level Chemists make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Chemists in Illinois earn about $60,740 per year and the 25th percentile is $71,160.
How much do Chemists make per hour in Illinois?
About $47.32 per hour, based on the $98,420 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Chemists work in Illinois?
BLS counts 3,040 Chemists jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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