Physicist salary in Illinois
Physicists in Illinois earn a median of $137,140 a year ($65.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,590 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $221,380 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $172,250. Illinois ranks 30th of 43 states for physicists pay. There are 0.26 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $139,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,830 | $39.34 |
| 25th percentile | $82,110 | $39.48 |
| Median | $137,140 | $65.93 |
| 75th percentile | $175,510 | $84.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $221,380 | $106.43 |
| Average (mean) | $139,780 | $67.20 |
Half of physicists 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 | $11,428.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,714.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,274.62 |
| Weekly | $2,637.31 |
| Hourly | $65.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $137,140 | 1,510 |
Highest-paying states for physicists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Florida | $225,390 |
| New Hampshire | $214,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $210,990 |
| California | $207,490 |
| Oregon | $200,320 |
| Oklahoma | $200,050 |
| Texas | $184,040 |
| New York | $181,970 |
| Kentucky | $180,910 |
| Connecticut | $180,300 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $85,230 | $40.98 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $81,590 | $39.23 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $108,970 | $52.39 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $96,950 | $46.61 |
| Materials Scientist | $125,850 | $60.50 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $112,280 | $53.98 |
| Hydrologist | $83,720 | $40.25 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $98,270 | $47.25 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $65,960 | $31.71 |
| Microbiologist | $92,050 | $44.26 |
| Chemical Technician | $61,890 | $29.76 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2012. 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 physicist make in Illinois?
The median salary for physicists in Illinois is $137,140 a year, or $65.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $221,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Illinois?
The top 10% of physicists in Illinois earn at least $221,380 a year. The top 25% earn $175,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,830 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $82,110 or less.
How many physicists work in Illinois?
About 1,590 physicists are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.