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Mechanical Engineer Salary in Chicago, IL

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The median mechanical engineer in the Chicago area earns $102,070 a year ($49.07 an hour), 2% below the U.S. median ($104,110) and 1% below the Illinois median ($102,680). Half of the 6,900 mechanical engineers there earn between $83,140 and $130,310.

Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median. Dashed: U.S. median.
Mechanical Engineers, May 2025 (latest official data). Metro area: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
Annual payChicago areaIllinoisU.S.
10th percentile$66,900$72,150$73,990
25th percentile$83,140$83,800$84,130
Median$102,070$102,680$104,110
75th percentile$130,310$130,730$132,590
90th percentile$157,720$160,160$164,340
Average$109,570$111,380$113,610
Jobs6,90011,790296,810

Chicago, IL ranks 27th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for mechanical engineer pay. Highest: San Jose, CA ($168,030).

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Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.