Illinois Median
$85,230
per year
Hourly Rate
$40.98
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-7% vs US median
US median $91,240
State Rank
#29 of 51
3,040 employed here
How much does a Chemist make in Illinois?
Chemists in Illinois take home a median of $85,230 annually — roughly $40.98 an hour — which runs 7% below the national median of $91,240.
Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $60,740 while the top 10% make $141,310 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $71,160 and $123,290 a year.
Chemist salary range in Illinois
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,740 | $29.20 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $71,160 | $34.21 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $85,230 | $40.98 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $123,290 | $59.27 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $141,310 | $67.94 |
|
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks 29th out of 51 states and territories for Chemist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chemist salary in other states
District of Columbia $149,860Maryland $140,670Delaware $129,860New Mexico $126,960Massachusetts $125,000Alaska $106,010Oregon $104,590Louisiana $103,890Wyoming $102,000Colorado $101,980Rhode Island $101,660New Hampshire $100,050Texas $99,640Minnesota $99,280Connecticut $98,140California $97,860Alabama $97,830Michigan $97,440Washington $97,420North Dakota $97,330Virginia $96,650Georgia $92,750New York $90,600Tennessee $87,930Vermont $86,120Iowa $86,100West Virginia $85,560Ohio $85,270New Jersey $84,450Hawaii $84,150Kentucky $84,090Kansas $82,820Missouri $82,800Florida $82,740North Carolina $82,620Arizona $81,730Nevada $81,170Utah $80,770Mississippi $80,060South Carolina $79,670Indiana $78,770Wisconsin $78,730Idaho $78,000Pennsylvania $77,090Arkansas $75,570Oklahoma $74,960Nebraska $74,890South Dakota $67,440Maine $64,440Montana $61,890
Working as a Chemist in Illinois
Nationally, about 83,000 people work as Chemists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Illinois pay ($85,230) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chemist make in Illinois?
The median Chemist salary in Illinois is $85,230 per year, or about $40.98 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $60,740 at the entry level to $141,310 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Chemists about 7% less than the national median of $91,240. Illinois ranks 29th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Chemists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $85,230 a year. About 3,040 Chemists are employed in Illinois. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chemist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.