Mechanical Engineer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Mechanical Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $102,070 a year ($49.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,900 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,720 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $104,110. Pay here is 1% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $102,680. There are 1.5 mechanical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $109,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,900 | $32.16 |
| 25th percentile | $83,140 | $39.97 |
| Median | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| 75th percentile | $130,310 | $62.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,720 | $75.83 |
| Average (mean) | $109,570 | $52.68 |
Half of mechanical 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 | $8,505.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,252.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,925.77 |
| Weekly | $1,962.88 |
| Hourly | $49.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Mechanical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $128,710 | 2,120 |
| Columbus, IN | $127,700 | 1,000 |
| Kokomo, IN | $105,410 | 300 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $104,320 | 930 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $104,220 | 3,310 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $101,090 | 150 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $100,690 | 510 |
| Bloomington, IL | $100,500 | 100 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $100,340 | 2,190 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $99,290 | 1,320 |
| Rockford, IL | $99,150 | 640 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $98,680 | 2,140 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $97,950 | 720 |
| Bloomington, IN | $97,830 | 90 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $95,310 | 560 |
| Evansville, IN | $95,220 | 220 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $94,940 | 40 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $94,060 | 90 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $93,060 | 110 |
| Springfield, IL | $92,920 | 90 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $88,770 | 190 |
| Muncie, IN | $86,010 | 60 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $83,550 | 90 |
| Kankakee, IL | $81,840 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 |
| California | $130,900 |
| Delaware | $125,130 |
| Colorado | $124,430 |
| Alaska | $124,340 |
| Maryland | $122,870 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 |
See Mechanical 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 17-2141. 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 mechanical engineer make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for mechanical engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $102,070 a year, or $49.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of mechanical engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $157,720 a year. The top 25% earn $130,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,900 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineers earn $83,140 or less.
How many mechanical engineers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 6,900 mechanical engineers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.