How much does a mechanical engineer make in Chicago?
$102,100a year
Median yearly pay for mechanical engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $49.07 an hour or $8,506 a month.
- Hourly
- $49.07
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 124 of 346
- Jobs in the area
- 6,900
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $66,900Median: $102,100Highest 10%: $157,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $66,900 | $32.16 | |
| 25th | $83,140 | $39.97 | |
| Median | $102,100 | $49.07 | |
| 75th | $130,300 | $62.65 | |
| 90th | $157,700 | $75.83 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for mechanical engineers.
| Peoria, IL | $128,700 |
| Davenport, IA | $104,300 |
| Champaign, IL | $101,100 |
| Bloomington, IL | $100,500 |
| St. Louis, MO | $100,300 |
| Rockford, IL | $99,150 |
| Paducah, KY | $94,060 |
| Springfield, IL | $92,920 |
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 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $49.07 ($102,100 a year).
Do mechanical engineers make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $102,100 against $104,100 nationally, 2% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $102,700, so Chicago pays 1% less.
Where does Chicago rank for mechanical engineer pay?
124 of 346 metro areas with data.
How much does a mechanical engineer make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $66,900 or less a year; the top 10% make $157,700 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.