Data Scientist Salary in Chicago, IL

The headline median of $120,000 is only part of the picture. Chicago, IL's cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 93¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $120,000 salary effectively purchases $112,150 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.

Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Chicago, IL, housing costs fall closer to the national average of 25–30% of gross income, leaving more room in the budget for savings, transportation, and discretionary spending. For a $120,000 salary, that translates to roughly $33,600/year on housing alone.

State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Illinois levies a state income tax of approximately 4.95%, which reduces take-home by roughly $5,940 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $105,391. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.

For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($165,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($158,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($162,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.

The 3.2% year-over-year growth rate for Data Scientists in Chicago, IL is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Data Scientists or the Illinois state overview.