Industrial Engineer Salary in Chicago, IL
Industrial Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $101,760 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,526 take-home, or $6,294 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial engineer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,557
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,309
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,476
- Illinois income tax$4,892
- Take-home pay$75,526
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.
Industrial Engineer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,420 | $35.78 | $57,645 | $4,804 |
| 25th percentile | $82,260 | $39.55 | $62,773 | $5,231 |
| Median (50th) | $101,760 | $48.92 | $75,526 | $6,294 |
| 75th percentile | $126,580 | $60.86 | $91,663 | $7,639 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,480 | $74.75 | $109,985 | $9,165 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,760 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 industrial engineer's $75,526 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,905 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.2× the national concentration of industrial engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for industrial engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #117 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaumont, TX | $123,660 | $95,788 | $106,376 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $129,500 | $96,281 | $106,059 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $127,340 | $94,869 | $102,454 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $132,290 | $96,535 | $101,035 |
| 5 | Fort Collins, CO | $131,870 | $96,305 | $95,231 |
| 6 | Peoria, IL | $117,180 | $85,611 | $93,839 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $131,210 | $100,948 | $90,835 |
| 8 | Decatur, AL | $106,230 | $78,516 | $90,029 |
| 117 | Chicago, IL | $101,760 | $75,526 | $72,905 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Industrial Engineer salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $117,180
- Rockford, IL — $93,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial engineer make in Chicago, IL?
The median industrial engineer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $101,760 a year, or about $48.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,260 and $126,580.
What is a industrial engineer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $101,760 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $75,526 a year ($6,294 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,892 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a industrial engineer?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $102,440. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,905 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #117 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial 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 industrial 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
- 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