Civil Engineer Salary in Chicago, IL
Civil Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $100,160 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,479 take-home, or $6,207 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,205
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,210
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,452
- Illinois income tax$4,813
- Take-home pay$74,479
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,130 | $35.64 | $57,456 | $4,788 |
| 25th percentile | $80,020 | $38.47 | $61,308 | $5,109 |
| Median (50th) | $100,160 | $48.15 | $74,479 | $6,207 |
| 75th percentile | $126,570 | $60.85 | $91,656 | $7,638 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $159,940 | $76.89 | $112,813 | $9,401 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,160 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $74,479 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,895 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineer jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #24 of 33 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $130,280 | $90,732 | $82,168 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $116,480 | $90,774 | $81,680 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $100,470 | $79,511 | $81,079 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $100,950 | $79,848 | $80,958 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,680 | $76,568 | $80,877 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $98,860 | $74,669 | $80,686 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $99,010 | $76,543 | $80,176 |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $100,160 | $74,479 | $71,895 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 33 metros →
About the job: civil engineers
Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Chicago, IL?
The median civil engineer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $100,160 a year, or about $48.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,020 and $126,570.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $100,160 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $74,479 a year ($6,207 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,813 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,895 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #24 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Electrical Engineer — $113,520
- Mechanical Engineer — $102,070
- Industrial Engineer — $101,760
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $81,790