Electrical Engineer Salary in Chicago, IL
Electrical Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $113,520 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $83,217 take-home, or $6,935 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,144
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,038
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,646
- Illinois income tax$5,474
- Take-home pay$83,217
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.
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,660 | $36.86 | $59,110 | $4,926 |
| 25th percentile | $92,320 | $44.38 | $69,352 | $5,779 |
| Median (50th) | $113,520 | $54.58 | $83,217 | $6,935 |
| 75th percentile | $134,330 | $64.58 | $96,576 | $8,048 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,890 | $79.75 | $116,585 | $9,715 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $113,520 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 electrical engineer's $83,217 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,329 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Electrical Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #61 of 79 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $163,720 | $116,477 | $121,907 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $159,360 | $120,189 | $113,754 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 5 | Chattanooga, TN | $123,840 | $95,911 | $104,862 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 7 | Huntsville, AL | $130,330 | $94,095 | $101,099 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $128,190 | $98,884 | $98,806 |
| 61 | Chicago, IL | $113,520 | $83,217 | $80,329 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 79 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Chicago, IL?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $113,520 a year, or about $54.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $92,320 and $134,330.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $113,520 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $83,217 a year ($6,935 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,474 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,329 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #61 of 79 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical 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) — 22% of a median electrical 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
- Environmental Engineer — $110,700
- Mechanical Engineer — $102,070
- Industrial Engineer — $101,760
- Civil Engineer — $100,160
- 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