Engineers, All Other pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $172,260 or more. The middle half of other engineers in Chicago earn between $85,050 and $150,090.
- $62K10th
- $85K25th
- $122KMedian
- $150K75th
- $172K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $118,990 | $9,916 | $57.21 |
| Median | $121,910 | $10,159 | $58.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,050 | $7,088 | $40.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $150,090 | $12,508 | $72.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Engineers, All Other pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Other engineers in Chicago earn 6% more than the Illinois average ($112,600) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($125,330). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $122,930.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $118,990 | $121,910 | $61,860 | $172,260 | 1,570 |
| Illinois | $112,600 | $111,930 | $58,920 | $168,770 | 2,520 |
| United States | $125,330 | $122,930 | $66,810 | $189,950 | 154,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Engineers, All Other salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $118,990, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $86,791 a year, or $7,233 a month and $3,338 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $89,000 | $7,417 |
| Working in IL | $86,791 | $7,233 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for other engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $118,990 buys what about $114,861 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Engineers, All Other salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 5 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$118,990
- Peoria$118,360
- Bloomington$103,930
- Rockford$98,630
- Champaign$97,400
Highest-paying cities for other engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($171,140).
- San Jose, CA$171,140
- San Francisco, CA$162,570
- Charlottesville, VA$151,940
- Albuquerque, NM$151,910
- Lexington Park, MD$151,780
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Engineers, All Other salary in Chicago: questions
How much do other engineers make an hour in Chicago?
$57.21 an hour on average, and $58.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other engineers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other engineers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $86,791 a year ($7,233 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $118,990.
Do other engineers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($125,330).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2199; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
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