Electrical Engineer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Electrical Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $113,520 a year ($54.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,290 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,890 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $120,630. Pay here is 5% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $107,860. There are 0.95 electrical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $118,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for electrical engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,660 | $36.85 |
| 25th percentile | $92,320 | $44.39 |
| Median | $113,520 | $54.58 |
| 75th percentile | $134,330 | $64.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,890 | $79.75 |
| Average (mean) | $118,210 | $56.83 |
Half of electrical 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 | $9,460 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,730 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,366.15 |
| Weekly | $2,183.08 |
| Hourly | $54.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Electrical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $123,960 | 1,290 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $113,840 | 70 |
| Rockford, IL | $112,350 | 180 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $106,840 | 170 |
| Kokomo, IN | $106,550 | 210 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $105,350 | 1,170 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $104,210 | 1,260 |
| Decatur, IL | $103,030 | 50 |
| Evansville, IN | $102,880 | 230 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $102,630 | 60 |
| Springfield, IL | $101,940 | 70 |
| Peoria, IL | $101,500 | 160 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $100,780 | 370 |
| Columbus, IN | $99,960 | 70 |
| Bloomington, IL | $98,920 | 40 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $98,870 | 110 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $97,960 | 660 |
| Bloomington, IN | $97,350 | 90 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $95,940 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $95,790 | 110 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $95,150 | 120 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $85,730 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for electrical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,520 |
| California | $144,040 |
| District of Columbia | $143,000 |
| New Hampshire | $135,710 |
| Washington | $132,710 |
| Texas | $129,450 |
| Idaho | $129,340 |
| Massachusetts | $127,720 |
| Delaware | $126,970 |
| Alaska | $125,970 |
See Electrical 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 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,160 | $48.16 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| 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 17-2071. 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 electrical engineer make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for electrical engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $113,520 a year, or $54.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid electrical engineers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of electrical engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $165,890 a year. The top 25% earn $134,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for electrical engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,660 a year, and a quarter of electrical engineers earn $92,320 or less.
How many electrical engineers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 4,290 electrical engineers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.