Environmental Scientist salary in Chicago, IL

Based on 13 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Aurora.

Also listed as: Environmental Specialist

Median salary$82,500

Middle 50%$78.5k–$96.5k

vs. national median−3%comparison median $85,000

Filings13FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

National median

$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $58,222 and $158,836.

Percentile	Salary
10th	$77,783
25th	$78,500
50th (median)	$82,500
75th	$96,491
90th	$102,981

Cost of living

Chicago's median Environmental Scientist salary of $82,500 is worth about $79,600 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).

Compared with all workers here

All Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $85,310 in May 2025 (990 employed). The H-1B median here is $82,500, 3% lower.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Top employers filing

Employer	Median	Filings
EY	too few	2
WSP	too few	2
Slipstream Group	too few	2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage level	Median	Filings
Entry-level · Level I	–	0
Mid-level · Level II	–	0
Senior · Level III	–	0
Expert · Level IV	–	0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.