Political Scientist salary in Illinois
Political Scientists in Illinois earn a median of $103,780 a year ($49.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $71,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,190 for the top 10%. That is 27% lower than the national median of $142,080. Illinois ranks 11th of 13 states for political scientists pay. There are 0.02 political scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $104,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for political scientists in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,990 | $34.61 |
| 25th percentile | $85,570 | $41.14 |
| Median | $103,780 | $49.89 |
| 75th percentile | $117,590 | $56.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,190 | $61.15 |
| Average (mean) | $104,460 | $50.22 |
Half of political 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 | $8,648.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,324.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,991.54 |
| Weekly | $1,995.77 |
| Hourly | $49.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Political Scientist salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,780 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for political scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $153,380 |
| District of Columbia | $152,530 |
| Washington | $147,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $140,020 |
| Massachusetts | $133,930 |
| Colorado | $127,260 |
| Oregon | $119,460 |
| Ohio | $119,370 |
| Texas | $114,050 |
| Arizona | $108,770 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $91,360 | $43.92 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $99,050 | $47.62 |
| Survey Researcher | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $59,560 | $28.63 |
| Geographer | $92,640 | $44.54 |
| Historian | $89,670 | $43.11 |
| Sociologist | $140,770 | $67.68 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| Chemist | $85,230 | $40.98 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $98,270 | $47.25 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $65,960 | $31.71 |
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 19-3094. 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 political scientist make in Illinois?
The median salary for political scientists in Illinois is $103,780 a year, or $49.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $71,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid political scientists make in Illinois?
The top 10% of political scientists in Illinois earn at least $127,190 a year. The top 25% earn $117,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for political scientists in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $71,990 a year, and a quarter of political scientists earn $85,570 or less.
How many political scientists work in Illinois?
About 110 political scientists are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.