📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release

Quality Assurance Engineer Salary in Illinois (2026)

Illinois · 5.0% above national average · High Demand

Average
$92,400
per year
Median
$87,150
per year
Hourly
$44.42
per hour
🏛️ Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
📅 Dataset: OES May 2025
🔄 Published: May 2026
📍 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
📊
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$59,115
25th Percentile — Junior$77,175
50th Percentile — Median$87,150
75th Percentile — Senior$117,810
90th Percentile — Top Earners$133,308
💡 Top-earning Quality Assurance Engineers in Illinois make up to $133,308 per year. The job market in Illinois is rated strong, with key industries including Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture.
📈
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$75.2k
2021
$78.4k
2022
$81.7k
2023
$85.1k
2024
$88.7k
2025
$92.4k
2026
📈 Quality Assurance Engineer salaries in Illinois have followed the national trend with 4.2% annual growth. The strong demand in Illinois's job market supports continued salary increases.
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Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by City in Illinois
Geographic salary comparison
CityAvg Salaryvs NationalDemand
Chicago $103,488 +12.0% High
Aurora $94,248 +2.0% High
🔍
Quality Assurance Engineer Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation

Illinois is home to a strong job market for Quality Assurance Engineers. The state's key industries — Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture — generate significant demand for skilled professionals. At $92,400 per year, Illinois's Quality Assurance Engineer salaries are 5.0% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Illinois (index: 1.05) justifies the higher pay scale. Entry-level professionals in Illinois can expect to earn $59,115–$77,175, while experienced Quality Assurance Engineers can command $117,810–$133,308.

Looking ahead, the Quality Assurance Engineer profession in Illinois is projected to grow at 4.2% annually. Major employers are actively hiring, and the state's investment in Finance continues to drive new opportunities for qualified candidates.

🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
⚖️
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
  • The average Quality Assurance Engineer salary in Illinois is $92,400 per year in 2026, which is 5.0% above the national average of $88,000.
  • Major metro areas typically pay Quality Assurance Engineers the highest wages in Illinois due to higher costs of living and competitive job markets.
  • Illinois has a strong job market with major industries in Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture. This makes it one of the better states for Quality Assurance Engineer employment.
  • At $92,400/year, Illinois Quality Assurance Engineer salaries are 5.0% higher than the national average of $88,000/year.