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Chicago engineer salary

Estimate

Updated March 2025

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

Typical pay

$118,040

Chicago

Top earners

$164,924

Higher end

vs national

-2% vs national

U.S. $120,395

State

IL

Illinois

Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro earn an estimated $118,040, -2% vs national, with top earners near $164,924. 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.

21results

What affects engineering pay in Chicago

  • ▹Local market. Chicago pay runs -2% 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.

Other Illinois metros

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Engineer salaries in Chicago — FAQ

How much do engineers make in Chicago?
Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro earn a blended median of $118,040 per year — 2% below the national average — across 12 engineering occupations and 75,760 local jobs. There is no single BLS "engineer" occupation, so this blends the published medians of the engineering occupations reported for the area, weighted by local employment (BLS OEWS May 2024).
What is the highest-paying engineering role in Chicago?
Engineering Managers have the highest published median in Chicago, at $159,110 per year (BLS OEWS May 2024). Local industry concentration shifts which disciplines command the biggest premium.
How does engineering pay in Chicago compare to the national average?
The Chicago engineering median of $118,040 is 2% below the national average of $120,395, against a Illinois statewide blend of $114,895.
Source details

BLS publishes no single "engineer" occupation. This blends the published medians of 12 engineering occupations in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, weighted by local employment (75,760 jobs).

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

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