How much does a materials engineer make in Chicago?
$99,590a year
Median yearly pay for materials engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $47.88 an hour or $8,299 a month.
- Hourly
- $47.88
- Vs. national median
- -12%
- Rank among cities
- 68 of 90
- Jobs in the area
- 250
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $65,160Median: $99,590Highest 10%: $160,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,160 | $31.33 | |
| 25th | $76,220 | $36.64 | |
| Median | $99,590 | $47.88 | |
| 75th | $136,500 | $65.63 | |
| 90th | $160,200 | $77.00 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for materials engineers.
| St. Louis, MO | $114,700 |
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 |
| Chemical Engineer | $110,800 |
| Environmental Engineer | $110,700 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $47.88 ($99,590 a year).
Do materials engineers make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $99,590 against $112,900 nationally, 12% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $126,600, so Chicago pays 21% less.
Where does Chicago rank for materials engineer pay?
68 of 90 metro areas with data.
How much does a materials engineer make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $65,160 or less a year; the top 10% make $160,200 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.