Environmental Engineer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Environmental Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $110,700 a year ($53.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 660 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,150 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $107,110. Pay here is 3% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $107,990. There are 0.15 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $118,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,240 | $38.58 |
| 25th percentile | $95,470 | $45.90 |
| Median | $110,700 | $53.22 |
| 75th percentile | $128,790 | $61.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,150 | $73.63 |
| Average (mean) | $118,370 | $56.91 |
Half of environmental 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 | $9,225 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,612.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,257.69 |
| Weekly | $2,128.85 |
| Hourly | $53.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Environmental Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $113,960 | 150 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $105,370 | 70 |
| Springfield, IL | $103,190 | 120 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $94,980 | 230 |
| Evansville, IN | $92,980 | 50 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $87,470 | 260 |
Highest-paying states for environmental engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $130,510 |
| California | $130,410 |
| Oregon | $127,100 |
| Washington | $125,460 |
| Texas | $123,060 |
| Nebraska | $120,620 |
| Idaho | $117,520 |
| Florida | $116,840 |
| Massachusetts | $115,800 |
| Minnesota | $115,750 |
See Environmental 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 17-2081. 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 environmental engineer make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for environmental engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $110,700 a year, or $53.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $153,150 a year. The top 25% earn $128,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,240 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $95,470 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 660 environmental engineers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.