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The median salary for Political Scientists in Illinois is $103,771 per year ($49.89/hr). This is 27% lower than the national median of $142,085.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.
Wage Percentiles: Illinois
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours) · National adjusted
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
vs National
P10Entry level
$34.61
$71,989
-13.6%
P25
$41.14
$85,571
-25.0%
P50MEDIAN
$49.89
$103,771
-27.0%
P75
$56.53
$117,582
-32.5%
P90Top earners
$61.15
$127,192
-34.8%
Get the full percentile report
P10–P90 breakdown, career outlook, industry wages, and JOLTS market signal for Political Scientists
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Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-3.1%
Slower than average
Annual openings
500
per year, on avg
Workforce today
7K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Master's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 2 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999100
4K
$151,990
Scientific Research and Development Services
NAICS 541700
480
$169,710
Wage range across top 5 industries: $151,990 to $169,710 (12% spread)
See the complete picture
Full percentile breakdown · JOLTS market signals · Geographic comparison · AI analyst briefs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median political scientists salary in Illinois?
The median (P50) annual salary for Political Scientists in Illinois is approximately $103,771, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. This is 27% lower than the national median of $142,085. For the full P10–P90 breakdown and market context, open CompSignal.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
Built and maintained by Falcon Incentives, a compensation strategy and incentive design consultancy.