Entry-level Medical Scientist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 199 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes North Chicago, Evanston, Orland Park, Maywood, Mettawa.
Also listed as: Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $61,008 |
| 25th | $63,960 |
| 50th (median) | $66,492 |
| 75th | $71,532 |
| 90th | $83,513 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $53,000 | $50,004 | $59,180 | 79 |
| FY2021 | $55,578 | $54,330 | $60,000 | 70 |
| FY2022 | $57,654 | $55,349 | $64,540 | 112 |
| FY2023 | $59,322 | $55,428 | $63,245 | 115 |
| FY2024 | $63,852 | $59,322 | $70,000 | 115 |
| FY2025 | $65,083 | $61,428 | $73,004 | 124 |
| FY2026 | $66,884 | $63,960 | $70,413 | 75 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Medical Scientist salary of $66,492 is worth about $64,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $83,240 in May 2025 (3,810 employed). The H-1B median here is $66,492, 20% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | $68,438 | 104 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | $63,960 | 35 |
| The University of Chicago | $67,824 | 24 |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago | too few | 9 |
| Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago | too few | 9 |
| Rush University Medical Center | too few | 6 |
| M1 Health | too few | 2 |
| Northwestern Memorial HealthCare | too few | 2 |
| PPD Development, L.P. | 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 | $66,492 | 199 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $80,392 | 41 |
| Senior · Level III | $139,600 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $152,890 | 16 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $63,960 | $66,492 | 199 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $69,888 | $80,392 | 41 |
| Senior · Level III | $83,429 | $139,600 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $117,333 | $152,890 | 16 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.