Materials Engineer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Materials Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $99,590 a year ($47.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,150 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 21% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $126,620. There are 0.06 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.38). The average (mean) salary is $108,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,160 | $31.33 |
| 25th percentile | $76,220 | $36.65 |
| Median | $99,590 | $47.88 |
| 75th percentile | $136,520 | $65.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,150 | $77.00 |
| Average (mean) | $108,990 | $52.40 |
Half of materials 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 | $8,299.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,149.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,830.38 |
| Weekly | $1,915.19 |
| Hourly | $47.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $127,740 | 380 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $127,230 | 160 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $114,670 | 120 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $100,420 | 40 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $99,640 | 50 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $85,130 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for materials engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $165,600 |
| Maryland | $140,640 |
| Washington | $139,840 |
| Delaware | $131,320 |
| Louisiana | $128,670 |
| California | $128,470 |
| Illinois | $126,620 |
| New York | $125,900 |
| Colorado | $124,030 |
| Alaska | $123,360 |
See Materials 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 |
| Environmental Engineer | $110,700 | $53.22 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $125,650 | $60.41 |
| Chemical Engineer | $110,760 | $53.25 |
| 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 17-2131. 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 materials engineer make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $99,590 a year, or $47.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $160,150 a year. The top 25% earn $136,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,160 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $76,220 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 250 materials engineers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.