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Chicago engineer salary

Estimate

Updated January 2025

What engineers earn in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin metro, with a full breakdown by role.

Typical pay

$123,529

Chicago

Top earners

$189,890

Higher end

vs national

+6% vs national

U.S. $116,537

State

IL

Illinois

Engineers in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin metro earn an estimated $123,529, +6% vs national, with top earners near $189,890. See the full breakdown by role below, or estimate your own total compensation — the number sharpens as local engineers contribute.

Engineering pay by role in Chicago

Estimated pay for each discipline in Chicago. Filter the list or open a role for the full picture.

22results

What affects engineering pay in Chicago

  • ▹Local market. Chicago pay runs +6% vs national for the typical engineer, usually above the Illinois statewide estimate.
  • ▹Industry concentration.A metro's dominant employers (tech, defense, energy, healthcare) shift which engineering disciplines command a premium locally.
  • ▹Experience & specialization. Seniority and in-demand skills swing pay well beyond the metro median — see the role table above and the calculator.
  • ▹Remote work.Remote offers may anchor to a company's HQ market rather than Chicago, raising or lowering local pay.

Engineer salaries in Chicago — FAQ

How much do engineers make in Chicago?
Engineers in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin metro earn an estimated median of $123,529 per year — 6% above the national average — with top earners near $189,890. These are labeled estimates: geographic pay is modeled from BLS OEWS national baselines adjusted by a local cost-of-labor index, not a direct BLS metro/state wage.
What is the highest-paying engineering role in Chicago?
Engineering Managers have the highest estimated pay in Chicago, around $175,292 (median). Local industry concentration shifts which disciplines command the biggest premium.
How does engineering pay in Chicago compare to the national average?
The estimated Chicago engineering median of $123,529 is 6% above the national average of $116,537, and usually runs above the Illinois statewide estimate.
Source details

Blended engineering estimate for Chicago: BLS OEWS national engineering median adjusted by a 1.06× cost-of-labor index.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →

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