Chemical Engineer salary in Illinois
Chemical Engineers in Illinois earn a median of $121,560 a year ($58.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $176,110 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $125,040. Illinois ranks 15th of 41 states for chemical engineers pay. There are 0.09 chemical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $123,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical engineers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,120 | $38.04 |
| 25th percentile | $95,800 | $46.06 |
| Median | $121,560 | $58.44 |
| 75th percentile | $140,010 | $67.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $176,110 | $84.67 |
| Average (mean) | $123,570 | $59.41 |
Half of chemical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,130 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,065 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,675.38 |
| Weekly | $2,337.69 |
| Hourly | $58.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemical Engineer salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $133,450 | 110 |
| Peoria, IL | $111,880 | 30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $110,760 | 370 |
Highest-paying states for chemical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 |
| Virginia | $136,380 |
| Alabama | $135,030 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 |
| Delaware | $133,670 |
| Texas | $132,750 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 |
| New York | $129,060 |
| Washington | $128,290 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $100,540 | $48.34 |
| Civil Engineer | $99,760 | $47.96 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,680 | $49.37 |
| Electrical Engineer | $107,860 | $51.85 |
| Engineers, All Other | $111,930 | $53.81 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,220 | $64.05 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $129,390 | $62.21 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Materials Engineer | $126,620 | $60.87 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $89,520 | $43.04 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $111,370 | $53.54 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $108,940 | $52.38 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $107,690 | $51.77 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical engineer make in Illinois?
The median salary for chemical engineers in Illinois is $121,560 a year, or $58.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $176,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical engineers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of chemical engineers in Illinois earn at least $176,110 a year. The top 25% earn $140,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical engineers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,120 a year, and a quarter of chemical engineers earn $95,800 or less.
How many chemical engineers work in Illinois?
About 520 chemical engineers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.