Physicists in Illinois. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Illinois physicists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $82,110 and $175,510, with a median of $137,140.
Physicists in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 126 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $77,323. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 70 | $68,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 32 | $99,362 |
| Level III — experienced | 12 | $115,770 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 9 | $151,798 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Physicists in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC | Associate Scientist | 61 | $84,906 |
| UChicago Argonne LLC | Postdoctoral Appointee | 9 | $90,063 |
| UChicago Argonne, LLC | Postdoctoral Appointee | 9 | $99,362 |
| University of Chicago | Postdoctoral Scholar | 5 | $77,126 |
| University of Illinois | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 5 | $66,269 |
| Fermi Research Alliance, LLC | Applications Physicist I | 4 | $60,402 |
| Northwestern University | Research Associate | 4 | $67,500 |
| Advocate Health & Hospitals Corp. | Medical Physicist | 3 | $235,000 |
| The University of Chicago | Postdoctoral Scholar | 3 | $75,000 |
| University of Chicago Medical Center | Physicist I | 3 | $204,764 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Quantum Computing Engineer I at Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC$79,300BataviaWage Level IDecided —I-200-26084-728354
- Research Associate Professor at The University Of Chicago$82,819ChicagoWage Level IDecided Mar 2, 2026I-200-26054-659017
- Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Illinois$66,269UrbanaWage Level IDecided Feb 10, 2026I-200-26034-616941
- Diagnostic Medical Physicist II at Northwestern Memorial HealthCare$182,894ChicagoWage Level IDecided Feb 4, 2026I-200-26028-599414
- Senior Postdoc Research Scientist in Physics and Astronomy at The Ohio University$73,463LemontDecided Jan 27, 2026I-200-26020-571417
- Neutrino Physicist at Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC$99,362BataviaWage Level IIDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-567488
- Neutrino Physicist at Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC$99,362BataviaWage Level IIDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-567458
- Engineering Physicist II at Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC$99,362BataviaWage Level IIDecided Jan 22, 2026I-200-26014-557850
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Physicists pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Physicists specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 100 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Scientist at a median of $99,362.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Scientist | Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC | 20 | $99,362 |
| Research Associate | Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC | 19 | $66,706 |
| Applications Physicist | Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC | 12 | $60,403 |
| Postdoctoral Appointee | UChicago Argonne LLC | 8 | $73,942 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | University of Chicago | 8 | $72,500 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of Illinois | 7 | $66,269 |
| Physicist | University of Chicago Medical Center | 6 | $163,191 |
| Engineering Physicist | Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC | 6 | $97,448 |
| Quantum Computing Engineer | Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC | 4 | $77,550 |
| Medical Physicist | Advocate Health & Hospitals Corp. | 4 | $232,500 |
| Accelerator Operator | Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC | 3 | $61,880 |
| Research Assistant Professor | Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska | 3 | $90,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Physicists in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 126 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $85,103.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC | 86 | $85,103 |
| Education | University of Chicago | 33 | $73,463 |
| Healthcare | Advocate Health & Hospitals Corp. | 7 | $216,197 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
- 4.6 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.5 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Mathematics
Basic skill
- 4.3 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- 02
Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- 03
Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- 04
Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- 05
Write research proposals to receive funding.
- 06
Teach physics to students.
- 07
Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
- 08
Conduct research pertaining to potential environmental impacts of atomic energy-related industrial development to determine licensing qualifications.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Illinois
Metro-level salary data for physicists in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$137,140
Compare Physicists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Illinois with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physicists in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physicists in Illinois is $137,140.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Physicists?
- The Illinois median is -17.4% versus the BLS national figure of $166,057.
- What is the salary range for Physicists in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $81,830 and the 90th-percentile at $221,380, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Physicists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Physicists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.