Civil Engineer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Civil Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $100,160 a year ($48.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $159,940 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $100,840. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $99,760. There are 2.2 civil engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $106,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for civil engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,130 | $35.64 |
| 25th percentile | $80,020 | $38.47 |
| Median | $100,160 | $48.16 |
| 75th percentile | $126,570 | $60.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $159,940 | $76.90 |
| Average (mean) | $106,540 | $51.22 |
Half of civil 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 | $8,346.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,173.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,852.31 |
| Weekly | $1,926.15 |
| Hourly | $48.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Civil Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | $105,750 | 440 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $102,650 | 940 |
| Bloomington, IN | $102,600 | 80 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $101,830 | 2,000 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $100,950 | 80 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $99,330 | 60 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $98,910 | 230 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $98,220 | 2,110 |
| Bloomington, IL | $97,070 | 120 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $96,830 | 3,150 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $96,180 | 180 |
| Decatur, IL | $96,170 | 100 |
| Peoria, IL | $95,140 | 430 |
| Rockford, IL | $94,850 | 160 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $93,910 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $92,950 | 410 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $88,920 | 250 |
| Evansville, IN | $87,900 | 180 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $87,380 | 90 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $81,190 | 30 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $72,720 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for civil engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $122,500 |
| Alaska | $114,730 |
| Washington | $110,000 |
| Massachusetts | $106,730 |
| Louisiana | $105,380 |
| Oregon | $105,250 |
| New Jersey | $104,660 |
| Nevada | $104,310 |
| New Mexico | $103,900 |
| District of Columbia | $103,880 |
See Civil Engineer pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $101,760 | $48.92 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| Electrical Engineer | $113,520 | $54.58 |
| Engineers, All Other | $121,910 | $58.61 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,860 | $64.35 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
| Environmental Engineer | $110,700 | $53.22 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $125,650 | $60.41 |
| Chemical Engineer | $110,760 | $53.25 |
| Materials Engineer | $99,590 | $47.88 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $98,670 | $47.44 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $114,180 | $54.89 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $81,790 | $39.32 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2051. 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 civil engineer make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for civil engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $100,160 a year, or $48.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $159,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid civil engineers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of civil engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $159,940 a year. The top 25% earn $126,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for civil engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,130 a year, and a quarter of civil engineers earn $80,020 or less.
How many civil engineers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 9,760 civil engineers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.