Cheryl Scott is one of the most recognizable meteorologists in Chicago — a fixture on ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV), where she has delivered forecasts since 2011. With that kind of tenure in the country’s third-largest TV market, it’s no surprise that “Cheryl Scott salary” is one of the most searched questions about her. Here’s an honest breakdown: her career, what we actually know about her pay, and why exact figures for local TV personalities are so hard to pin down.
Who is Cheryl Scott?
Born January 29, 1985, Scott joined ABC 7 Chicago in 2011 and has been part of the station’s weather team ever since — a run of well over a decade at one of the most-watched local news operations in America. Before Chicago, she worked in smaller markets, the traditional path for broadcast meteorologists: start local, build a reel, move up market by market.
Longevity like hers matters in local TV. Morning and midday weather anchors become part of viewers’ daily routines, and stations pay a premium to keep familiar faces — replacing a trusted meteorologist risks losing the audience habit that took years to build.
What is Cheryl Scott’s salary?
Here’s the honest answer: neither ABC 7 Chicago nor Scott has ever publicly disclosed her salary. Local TV contracts are private, and stations don’t publish what they pay on-air talent. Any website claiming to know her exact paycheck is guessing.
What we can say with confidence is what the market looks like. Chicago is the #3 television market in the United States (behind only New York and Los Angeles), and pay scales with market size more than almost any other factor in broadcast news. Industry reporting generally places experienced, long-tenured meteorologists in top-5 markets in the six-figure range, with the exact number depending on:
- Tenure — a meteorologist with 10+ years at the same station earns substantially more than a new hire
- Shift — morning-show meteorologists, who anchor the station’s most profitable hours, typically command more than weekend or fill-in roles
- Additional duties — reporting, special coverage (severe weather, for instance, is a big deal in Chicago), and community appearances all factor into contract negotiations
- Contract leverage — established talent with a loyal audience negotiates from strength at renewal time
So while no verified figure exists, a veteran meteorologist of Scott’s standing in a top-3 market sits in the upper tier of local TV weather pay. Treat any specific dollar amount you see online as an estimate, not a fact.
What is Cheryl Scott’s net worth?
The same caveat applies, more so. Net worth estimates for local TV personalities circulate widely online, but they’re built on the same undisclosed salary figures plus guesswork about investments, real estate, and expenses — none of which is public. Without verified income data, any net worth number is speculative.
What’s real: a decade-plus career at a major-market station, in a top-3 market, with the kind of audience trust that commands strong contract renewals. That’s the substance behind the curiosity.
Her career path
Scott’s trajectory follows the classic broadcast meteorology ladder: smaller markets first, then the jump to Chicago. A Brown University graduate with a degree in Geological Sciences, her first on-air job was at WSEE-TV in Erie, Pennsylvania, followed by a stint as weekend morning meteorologist at NBC 5 Chicago before she landed at ABC 7 in 2011. She now holds the title of lead meteorologist at the station. She is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. Chicago is one of the most competitive weather markets in the country, where lake-effect snow, severe spring storms, and polar vortex winters make the meteorologist one of the most important people on the broadcast. Holding that job for over a decade signals both skill and audience connection.
Personal life and marriage
Interest in Scott’s personal life — including her wedding — consistently ranks among the top searches about her.
How local TV contracts typically work
One reason exact salaries stay private: local TV pay isn’t a single number. Contracts for established on-air talent commonly include a base salary plus negotiated extras — appearance fees for station events, bonuses tied to ratings periods, and in some cases talent fees for sponsored segments. Agents negotiate these packages, and both sides treat the terms as confidential. That’s why even well-sourced reporting on local TV pay talks in ranges rather than exact figures: the people who know the number are contractually the people who can’t share it.
The bottom line
Cheryl Scott’s exact salary isn’t public, and anyone telling you otherwise is speculating. What is public: a 10+ year run as a meteorologist at ABC 7 Chicago, one of America’s biggest and most competitive local news stations — a position that places her among the best-compensated local TV meteorologists in the country. The career is the story; the specific number was never disclosed.
Personal life
As of 2026, Cheryl Scott is not married. She was engaged to Chicago entrepreneur Dante Deiana in 2018; reports indicate they have since parted ways.
Off the air
Outside the studio, Scott is known for a fitness-forward, outdoorsy life: hiking, traveling, and time with her dogs. She does regular charity work and supports organizations including the American Red Cross. She stays active with viewers on social media as @cherylscottwx on Instagram and X, and as Cheryl Scott ABC7 on Facebook.
Cheryl Scott salary FAQs
How much does Cheryl Scott make?
Cheryl Scott’s exact salary has never been publicly disclosed — neither ABC 7 Chicago nor Scott herself has released the figure, and local TV contracts are private. What the market tells us: Chicago is the #3 television market in the U.S., and pay there scales with tenure, shift, additional duties, and contract leverage.
How much does Cheryl Scott make a year?
There is no verified annual salary figure for Cheryl Scott; her exact pay isn’t public, and anyone stating a specific number is speculating. What is documented is that a veteran meteorologist of her standing — 10+ years at ABC 7 Chicago in a top-3 market — sits among the best-compensated local TV meteorologists in the country.
