Civil Engineer salary in Illinois
Civil Engineers in Illinois earn a median of $99,760 a year ($47.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,910 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,410 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $100,840. Illinois ranks 22nd of 51 states for civil engineers pay. There are 2.3 civil engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $105,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for civil engineers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| 25th percentile | $79,650 | $38.29 |
| Median | $99,760 | $47.96 |
| 75th percentile | $125,990 | $60.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,410 | $75.68 |
| Average (mean) | $105,390 | $50.67 |
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 | $8,313.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,156.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,836.92 |
| Weekly | $1,918.46 |
| Hourly | $47.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Civil Engineer salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | $105,750 | 440 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $100,950 | 80 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,160 | 9,760 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $98,910 | 230 |
| Bloomington, IL | $97,070 | 120 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $96,830 | 3,150 |
| Decatur, IL | $96,170 | 100 |
| Peoria, IL | $95,140 | 430 |
| Rockford, IL | $94,850 | 160 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $92,950 | 410 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $81,190 | 30 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $100,540 | $48.34 |
| 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 |
| Chemical Engineer | $121,560 | $58.44 |
| 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 17-2051. 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 Illinois?
The median salary for civil engineers in Illinois is $99,760 a year, or $47.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid civil engineers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of civil engineers in Illinois earn at least $157,410 a year. The top 25% earn $125,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for civil engineers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,590 a year, and a quarter of civil engineers earn $79,650 or less.
How many civil engineers work in Illinois?
About 13,910 civil engineers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.