Chemical Engineers Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$79,120
- 25th Percentile — Junior$95,800
- 50th Percentile — Median$121,560
- 75th Percentile — Senior$140,010
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$176,110
Half of Chemical Engineers in Illinois earn more than $121,560. The top 10% make $176,110 or more, while entry-level workers start around $79,120.
Chemical Engineers in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 17th of 41 states for Chemical Engineers pay, at $123,570 per year (4.9% below the U.S. average of $129,980).
- 520 people work as Chemical Engineers in Illinois — 2.5% of all U.S. Chemical Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.63: Chemical Engineers jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $79,120; the top 10% earn over $176,110.
- Hourly equivalent: $59.41 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $147,420.
- Among engineering jobs in Illinois, Nuclear Engineers pays the most ($139,280).
Chemical Engineers Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Chemical Engineers here earn $123,570 on average, placing the state 17th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $123,570 is roughly equivalent to $117,686 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Pennsylvania ($127,520), Montana ($126,310), Colorado ($126,060) are the closest alternatives for Chemical Engineers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Engineering Jobs in Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Nuclear Engineers $139,280/yr Illinois +12.7% vs this role
- Computer Hardware Engineers $138,940/yr Illinois +12.4% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $125,610/yr Illinois +1.7% vs this role
- Materials Engineers $122,070/yr Illinois 1.2% vs this role
- Environmental Engineers $116,020/yr Illinois 6.1% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $114,640/yr Illinois 7.2% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $112,600/yr Illinois 8.9% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $111,380/yr Illinois 9.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Chemical Engineers salary in Illinois?
The average Chemical Engineers salary in Illinois is $123,570 per year (median $121,560), which is 4.9% below the national average of $129,980.
How does Illinois rank for Chemical Engineers pay?
Illinois ranks 17th out of 41 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($147,420/yr).
How much do entry-level Chemical Engineers make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Chemical Engineers in Illinois earn about $79,120 per year and the 25th percentile is $95,800.
How much do Chemical Engineers make per hour in Illinois?
About $59.41 per hour, based on the $123,570 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Chemical Engineers work in Illinois?
BLS counts 520 Chemical Engineers jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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