Illinois Median
$137,140
per year
Hourly Rate
$65.93
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-20% vs US median
US median $172,250
State Rank
#30 of 43
1,590 employed here
How much does a Physicist make in Illinois?
A Physicist working in Illinois earns a median salary of $137,140 per year, or about $65.93 per hour. That is 20% below the national median of $172,250 for this occupation.
Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $81,830 while the top 10% make $221,380 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $82,110 and $175,510 a year.
Physicist salary range in Illinois
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,830 | $39.34 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $82,110 | $39.48 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $137,140 | $65.93 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $175,510 | $84.38 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $221,380 | $106.43 |
|
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks 30th out of 43 states and territories for Physicist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Physicist salary in other states
Florida $225,390New Hampshire $214,030Pennsylvania $210,990California $207,490Oregon $200,320Oklahoma $200,050Texas $184,040New York $181,970Kentucky $180,910Connecticut $180,300Iowa $178,110Maryland $174,390North Carolina $174,180Wisconsin $173,120Minnesota $171,220Louisiana $166,240New Mexico $165,340Tennessee $165,010New Jersey $163,270Ohio $162,900District of Columbia $157,040Utah $156,760Rhode Island $155,150Nevada $154,030Virginia $145,040Georgia $144,870Missouri $140,460Alabama $139,330South Carolina $138,400Arkansas $135,820Idaho $135,150Washington $134,790Arizona $130,500Mississippi $129,970Hawaii $117,190Massachusetts $106,410Indiana $105,940Colorado $104,580Montana $103,800Michigan $94,520South Dakota $83,050Delaware $82,590
Working as a Physicist in Illinois
Nationally, about 20,000 people work as Physicists in the United States. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
Considering a move? Compare Illinois pay ($137,140) 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 Physicist make in Illinois?
The median Physicist salary in Illinois is $137,140 per year, or about $65.93 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $81,830 at the entry level to $221,380 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Physicists about 20% less than the national median of $172,250. Illinois ranks 30th out of 43 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Physicists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $137,140 a year. About 1,590 Physicists 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 Physicist 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.