Mechanical Engineer Salary in Chicago, IL
Mechanical Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $102,070 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,729 take-home, or $6,311 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,625
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,328
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,480
- Illinois income tax$4,908
- Take-home pay$75,729
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 →
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,900 | $32.16 | $52,727 | $4,394 |
| 25th percentile | $83,140 | $39.97 | $63,348 | $5,279 |
| Median (50th) | $102,070 | $49.07 | $75,729 | $6,311 |
| 75th percentile | $130,310 | $62.65 | $94,027 | $7,836 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,720 | $75.83 | $111,405 | $9,284 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,070 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 mechanical engineer's $75,729 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,101 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Mechanical Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #22 of 25 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $161,370 | $108,687 | $94,009 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $128,180 | $93,946 | $88,810 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $126,590 | $97,790 | $87,994 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $104,220 | $80,065 | $83,952 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $126,990 | $90,238 | $82,875 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $116,700 | $85,723 | $82,042 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $102,070 | $75,729 | $73,101 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
About the job: mechanical engineers
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +11.2% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Chicago, IL?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $102,070 a year, or about $49.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,140 and $130,310.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $102,070 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $75,729 a year ($6,311 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,908 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,101 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #22 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical 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) — 24% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Electrical Engineer — $113,520
- Industrial Engineer — $101,760
- Civil Engineer — $100,160
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $81,790