Industrial designer pay in Chicago, IL
Industrial designers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a typical $112,950 a year. The middle half earn $80,040 to $112,950, and the top 10% earn more than $136,090. About 420 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Commercial and Industrial Designers, SOC 27-1021).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $63,920 |
| 25th percentile | $80,040 |
| Median (typical) | $112,950 |
| 75th percentile | $112,950 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $136,090 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 2 of 48 large metros for industrial designers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $112,950, a single filer keeps about $82,800 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and Illinois state income tax. Prices in Chicago are 4% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $80,000 would in a typical US city. That ranks Chicago No. 3 of 48 large metros for industrial designers after cost of living.
Where industrial designers’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$141,310 typical · worth $89.6k
- Austin, TX$100,520 typical · worth $81.1k
- Detroit, MI$108,180 typical · worth $77.8k
- Cincinnati, OH$95,160 typical · worth $75.7k
All 48 metros for industrial designers →
Where does your salary land?
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Common questions
How much does a industrial designer make in Chicago, IL?
The typical (median) industrial designer in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earns $112,950 a year. The middle half earn between $80,040 and $112,950, and the top 10% earn more than $136,090. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a industrial designer in Chicago?
Anything above $112,950 pays more than half of industrial designers in Chicago. $112,950 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $136,090 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a industrial designer in Chicago take home after taxes?
At the typical $112,950, a single filer keeps about $82,800 a year ($6,900 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, Illinois state income tax. With local prices 4% above the US average, that buys what $80,000 would in a typical US city.
Where do industrial designers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 48 largest US metros, typical industrial designer pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, Austin, TX, Detroit, MI. Chicago, IL ranks No. 3.
More: Industrial designer pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Chicago, IL
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.