Electrical Engineer salary in Illinois
Electrical Engineers in Illinois earn a median of $107,860 a year ($51.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,290 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $120,630. Illinois ranks 28th of 49 states for electrical engineers pay. There are 0.90 electrical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $114,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for electrical engineers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,470 | $36.28 |
| 25th percentile | $87,360 | $42.00 |
| Median | $107,860 | $51.85 |
| 75th percentile | $131,960 | $63.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,290 | $78.99 |
| Average (mean) | $114,640 | $55.11 |
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 | $8,988.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,494.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,148.46 |
| Weekly | $2,074.23 |
| Hourly | $51.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Electrical Engineer salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $123,960 | 1,290 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $113,520 | 4,290 |
| Rockford, IL | $112,350 | 180 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $106,840 | 170 |
| Decatur, IL | $103,030 | 50 |
| Springfield, IL | $101,940 | 70 |
| Peoria, IL | $101,500 | 160 |
| Bloomington, IL | $98,920 | 40 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $95,940 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $95,790 | 110 |
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 |
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 |
| 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 17-2071. 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 Illinois?
The median salary for electrical engineers in Illinois is $107,860 a year, or $51.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid electrical engineers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of electrical engineers in Illinois earn at least $164,290 a year. The top 25% earn $131,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for electrical engineers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,470 a year, and a quarter of electrical engineers earn $87,360 or less.
How many electrical engineers work in Illinois?
About 5,460 electrical engineers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.