Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $142,810 or more. The middle half of bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Chicago earn between $69,590 and $118,040.
- $49K10th
- $70K25th
- $99KMedian
- $118K75th
- $143K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,810 | $8,401 | $48.47 |
| Median | $98,670 | $8,222 | $47.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,590 | $5,799 | $33.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $118,040 | $9,837 | $56.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Chicago earn 11% more than the Illinois average ($90,580) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($116,890). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $109,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $100,810 | $98,670 | $49,040 | $142,810 | 210 |
| Illinois | $90,580 | $89,520 | $48,370 | $138,110 | 280 |
| United States | $116,890 | $109,370 | $71,850 | $168,180 | 23,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $100,810, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $74,901 a year, or $6,242 a month and $2,881 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 | $76,756 | $6,396 |
| Working in IL | $74,901 | $6,242 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for bioengineers and biomedical 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 $100,810 buys what about $97,312 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$126,340
- Madison, WI$116,160
- Indianapolis, IN$125,090
- Bloomington, IN$114,140
- Ann Arbor, MI$89,270
- Dayton, OH$108,300
Highest-paying cities for bioengineers and biomedical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($143,640).
- San Jose, CA$143,640
- San Francisco, CA$140,020
- Phoenix, AZ$137,420
- Boulder, CO$136,520
- Cincinnati, OH$130,830
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Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do bioengineers and biomedical engineers make an hour in Chicago?
$48.47 an hour on average, and $47.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bioengineers and biomedical engineers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bioengineers and biomedical engineers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $74,901 a year ($6,242 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,810.
Do bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($116,890).
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 17-2031; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.4%.
- 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 0.30, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.30).
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