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.
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 #106 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $135,530 | $100,221 | $110,400 |
| 2 | Beaumont, TX | $122,280 | $94,844 | $105,329 |
| 3 | Peoria, IL | $128,710 | $93,013 | $101,953 |
| 4 | Columbus, IN | $127,700 | $94,811 | $101,944 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 |
| 6 | Augusta, GA | $128,740 | $93,201 | $101,412 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $124,780 | $96,553 | $96,477 |
| 106 | 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 115 metros →
Mechanical Engineer salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $128,710
- Rockford, IL — $99,150
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 #106 of 115 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
- 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
- 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