Mechanical engineer pay in Chicago, IL
Mechanical engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a typical $102,070 a year. The middle half earn $83,140 to $130,310, and the top 10% earn more than $157,720. About 6,900 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Mechanical Engineers, SOC 17-2141).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $66,900 |
| 25th percentile | $83,140 |
| Median (typical) | $102,070 |
| 75th percentile | $130,310 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $157,720 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 27 of 50 large metros for mechanical engineers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $102,070, a single filer keeps about $75,700 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 $73,100 would in a typical US city. That ranks Chicago No. 45 of 50 large metros for mechanical engineers after cost of living.
Where mechanical engineers’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$168,030 typical · worth $104k
- Houston, TX$125,350 typical · worth $98.3k
- San Francisco, CA$161,370 typical · worth $95.8k
- Memphis, TN$104,110 typical · worth $89k
All 50 metros for mechanical engineers →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among mechanical engineers in Chicago. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.) 1 employer here filed pay above the typical rate in government filings; your check shows how many pay more than you.
Common questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Chicago, IL?
The typical (median) mechanical engineer in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earns $102,070 a year. The middle half earn between $83,140 and $130,310, and the top 10% earn more than $157,720. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a mechanical engineer in Chicago?
Anything above $102,070 pays more than half of mechanical engineers in Chicago. $130,310 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $157,720 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a mechanical engineer in Chicago take home after taxes?
At the typical $102,070, a single filer keeps about $75,700 a year ($6,310 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, Illinois state income tax. With local prices 4% above the US average, that buys what $73,100 would in a typical US city.
Where do mechanical engineers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical mechanical engineer pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, Houston, TX, San Francisco, CA. Chicago, IL ranks No. 45.
More: Mechanical engineer pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Chicago, IL
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.