Aerospace Engineers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $83,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $191,800 or more. The middle half of aerospace engineers in Chicago earn between $104,400 and $177,980.
- $84K10th
- $104K25th
- $135KMedian
- $178K75th
- $192K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $139,810 | $11,651 | $67.22 |
| Median | $134,510 | $11,209 | $64.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $104,400 | $8,700 | $50.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $177,980 | $14,832 | $85.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Aerospace Engineers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Aerospace engineers in Chicago earn 11% more than the Illinois average ($125,610) and about the same as the U.S. average ($142,060). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $134,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $139,810 | $134,510 | $83,870 | $191,800 | 120 |
| Illinois | $125,610 | $108,940 | $78,170 | $184,520 | 200 |
| United States | $142,060 | $134,960 | $86,700 | $205,890 | 67,710 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Aerospace Engineers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $139,810, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $100,047 a year, or $8,337 a month and $3,848 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $102,662 | $8,555 |
| Working in IL | $100,047 | $8,337 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for aerospace engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $139,810 buys what about $134,958 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Aerospace Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Grand Rapids, MI$134,980
- Indianapolis, IN$120,930
- Ann Arbor, MI$115,880
- Dayton, OH$133,200
- Detroit, MI$129,240
- Louisville, KY$136,960
Highest-paying cities for aerospace engineers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($183,920).
- San Francisco, CA$183,920
- San Jose, CA$181,690
- Omaha, NE$172,720
- Washington, DC$168,780
- Boulder, CO$165,500
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Aerospace Engineers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do aerospace engineers make an hour in Chicago?
$67.22 an hour on average, and $64.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level aerospace engineers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $83,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $104,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the aerospace engineers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $100,047 a year ($8,337 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $139,810.
Do aerospace engineers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($142,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2011; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.06, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.06).
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