Salary Comparison

Data Scientist Salary:
Chicago, IL vs Houston, TX

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Chicago, IL
$144,487
/ year
+17%
difference
Houston, TX
$123,250
/ year
Bottom line: Houston offers better purchasing power despite Chicago paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Chicago
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$144,487✓ higher
$123,250
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$93,439✓ higher
$79,705
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$223,424✓ higher
$190,584
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$97,917✓ higher
$85,101
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$125,641
$125,765✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$93,439✓ higher
$79,705
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$223,424✓ higher
$190,584

What if you move from Chicago to Houston?

Gross salary change
$21,237
17% decrease
Take-home change
$12,816
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$124
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Chicago, IL$144,487
P10: $93,439Median: $144,487P90: $223,424
Houston, TX$123,250
P10: $79,705Median: $123,250P90: $190,584

More Data Scientist salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Scientist earn more in Chicago or Houston?

The median Data Scientist salary in Chicago, IL is $144,487/yr compared to $123,250/yr in Houston, TX. Chicago pays 17% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Scientist salary worth more in Chicago or Houston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Chicago salary has the purchasing power of $125,641/yr in a median-cost city, vs $125,765/yr for Houston. Houston offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Chicago vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a Data Scientist in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $97,917/yr, vs $85,101/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.