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.
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 #102 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick, WA | $121,370 | $94,214 | $94,139 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $112,430 | $84,938 | $93,565 |
| 3 | Mobile, AL | $107,810 | $79,549 | $90,296 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $108,240 | $82,116 | $88,681 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $99,700 | $78,969 | $87,132 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $102,080 | $76,595 | $85,856 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $95,510 | $76,021 | $84,425 |
| 102 | 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 125 metros →
Civil Engineer salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Springfield, IL — $105,750
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 #102 of 125 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
- Nuclear Engineer — $134,510
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $133,860
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $125,650
- Engineers, All Other — $121,910
- Electrical Engineer — $113,520
- Environmental Engineer — $110,700
- Mechanical Engineer — $102,070
- Industrial Engineer — $101,760
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $85,510
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $81,790
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $81,360
- Surveyor — $80,060