Salary guide, May 2025
Product Development Scientist pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Food Scientists and Technologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $100,390 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $76,970 and $130,910.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $11,670 above the national median of $88,720, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 19-1012 Food Scientists and Technologists
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
What should you know about chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $65,810 | $76,970 | $100,390 | $130,910 | $173,750 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $31.64 | $37.00 | $48.27 | $62.94 | $83.54 |
BLS estimated 610 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 1.62.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $52,920 | $68,810 | $88,720 | $116,650 | $145,280 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.44 | $33.08 | $42.65 | $56.08 | $69.85 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Product Development Scientist median is $100,390. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 1.83 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.62 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $74,540 | $99,320 | $126,240 |
| May 2025 | $76,970 | $100,390 | $130,910 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 19-1012 Food Scientists and Technologists, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 19-1012 Food Scientists and Technologists, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $86,230 | $74,430 to $106,130 |
| Madison, WI | $66,080 | $60,490 to $94,510 |
National page · Product Development Scientist ranked across metros