Materials Scientist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Materials Scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $133,340 a year ($64.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 460 workers.
Pay ranges from $93,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $197,910 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $117,790. Pay here is 6% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $125,850. There are 0.10 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $140,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,240 | $44.83 |
| 25th percentile | $104,350 | $50.17 |
| Median | $133,340 | $64.10 |
| 75th percentile | $174,110 | $83.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $197,910 | $95.15 |
| Average (mean) | $140,350 | $67.48 |
Half of materials scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,111.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,555.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,128.46 |
| Weekly | $2,564.23 |
| Hourly | $64.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Scientist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $107,500 | 200 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,690 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for materials scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $177,030 |
| Oregon | $150,550 |
| Wisconsin | $137,700 |
| District of Columbia | $137,600 |
| Massachusetts | $132,600 |
| Minnesota | $132,160 |
| New York | $131,740 |
| Indiana | $130,540 |
| Connecticut | $130,320 |
| Washington | $127,250 |
See Materials Scientist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $90,920 | $43.71 |
| Physicist | $137,140 | $65.93 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $85,310 | $41.01 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $121,720 | $58.52 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $114,030 | $54.82 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $133,490 | $64.18 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,240 | $40.02 |
| School Psychologist | $90,620 | $43.57 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,630 | $48.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $62,670 | $30.13 |
| Microbiologist | $100,620 | $48.38 |
| Chemical Technician | $62,100 | $29.86 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $69,820 | $33.57 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials scientist make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for materials scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $133,340 a year, or $64.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $93,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $197,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of materials scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $197,910 a year. The top 25% earn $174,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $93,240 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $104,350 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 460 materials scientists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.