How much does a chemical engineer make in Chicago?
$110,800a year
Median yearly pay for chemical engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $53.25 an hour or $9,230 a month.
- Hourly
- $53.25
- Vs. national median
- -11%
- Rank among cities
- 46 of 77
- Jobs in the area
- 370
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $78,700Median: $110,800Highest 10%: $179,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,700 | $37.84 | |
| 25th | $94,170 | $45.27 | |
| Median | $110,800 | $53.25 | |
| 75th | $139,500 | $67.08 | |
| 90th | $179,000 | $86.07 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for chemical engineers.
| St. Louis, MO | $133,500 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,500 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $134,500 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,900 |
| Electronics Engineer | $125,700 |
| Engineer | $121,900 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $114,200 |
| Electrical Engineer | $113,500 |
| Environmental Engineer | $110,700 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,100 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical engineer make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $53.25 ($110,800 a year).
Do chemical engineers make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $110,800 against $125,000 nationally, 11% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $121,600, so Chicago pays 9% less.
Where does Chicago rank for chemical engineer pay?
46 of 77 metro areas with data.
How much does a chemical engineer make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $78,700 or less a year; the top 10% make $179,000 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.