Mechanical Engineers Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$72,150
- 25th Percentile — Junior$83,800
- 50th Percentile — Median$102,680
- 75th Percentile — Senior$130,730
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$160,160
Half of Mechanical Engineers in Illinois earn more than $102,680. The top 10% make $160,160 or more, while entry-level workers start around $72,150.
Mechanical Engineers in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 21st of 51 states for Mechanical Engineers pay, at $111,380 per year (2.0% below the U.S. average of $113,610).
- 11,790 people work as Mechanical Engineers in Illinois — 4.0% of all U.S. Mechanical Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.01: Mechanical Engineers jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $72,150; the top 10% earn over $160,160.
- Hourly equivalent: $53.55 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $152,430.
- Among engineering jobs in Illinois, Nuclear Engineers pays the most ($139,280).
Mechanical Engineers Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Mechanical Engineers here earn $111,380 on average, placing the state 21st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $111,380 is roughly equivalent to $106,076 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, South Carolina ($113,690), Michigan ($112,320), Vermont ($112,260) are the closest alternatives for Mechanical 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 +25.0% vs this role
- Computer Hardware Engineers $138,940/yr Illinois +24.7% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $125,610/yr Illinois +12.8% vs this role
- Chemical Engineers $123,570/yr Illinois +10.9% vs this role
- Materials Engineers $122,070/yr Illinois +9.6% vs this role
- Environmental Engineers $116,020/yr Illinois +4.2% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $114,640/yr Illinois +2.9% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $112,600/yr Illinois +1.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mechanical Engineers salary in Illinois?
The average Mechanical Engineers salary in Illinois is $111,380 per year (median $102,680), which is 2.0% below the national average of $113,610.
How does Illinois rank for Mechanical Engineers pay?
Illinois ranks 21st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($152,430/yr).
How much do entry-level Mechanical Engineers make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mechanical Engineers in Illinois earn about $72,150 per year and the 25th percentile is $83,800.
How much do Mechanical Engineers make per hour in Illinois?
About $53.55 per hour, based on the $111,380 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mechanical Engineers work in Illinois?
BLS counts 11,790 Mechanical Engineers jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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