Environmental Scientists and Specialists Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$46,540
- 25th Percentile — Junior$60,790
- 50th Percentile — Median$81,590
- 75th Percentile — Senior$121,040
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$153,150
Half of Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Illinois earn more than $81,590. The top 10% make $153,150 or more, while entry-level workers start around $46,540.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 15th of 51 states for Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay, at $92,260 per year (0.6% above the U.S. average of $91,680).
- 1,550 people work as Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Illinois — 1.7% of all U.S. Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.44: Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,540; the top 10% earn over $153,150.
- Hourly equivalent: $44.36 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $133,190.
- Among science jobs in Illinois, Atmospheric and Space Scientists pays the most ($147,860).
Environmental Scientists and Specialists Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Environmental Scientists and Specialists here earn $92,260 on average, placing the state 15th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $92,260 is roughly equivalent to $87,867 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Utah ($98,090), Oregon ($97,100), Maryland ($93,100) are the closest alternatives for Environmental Scientists and Specialists 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 +60.3% vs this role
- Sociologists $143,940/yr Illinois +56.0% vs this role
- Physicists $139,780/yr Illinois +51.5% vs this role
- Materials Scientists $129,980/yr Illinois +40.9% vs this role
- Geoscientists $109,290/yr Illinois +18.5% vs this role
- Food Scientists and Technologists $103,030/yr Illinois +11.7% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $102,640/yr Illinois +11.3% vs this role
- Chemists $98,420/yr Illinois +6.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Environmental Scientists and Specialists salary in Illinois?
The average Environmental Scientists and Specialists salary in Illinois is $92,260 per year (median $81,590), which is 0.6% above the national average of $91,680.
How does Illinois rank for Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay?
Illinois ranks 15th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($133,190/yr).
How much do entry-level Environmental Scientists and Specialists make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Illinois earn about $46,540 per year and the 25th percentile is $60,790.
How much do Environmental Scientists and Specialists make per hour in Illinois?
About $44.36 per hour, based on the $92,260 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Environmental Scientists and Specialists work in Illinois?
BLS counts 1,550 Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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