Chemical Engineers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $179,020 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Chicago earn between $94,170 and $139,520.
- $79K10th
- $94K25th
- $111KMedian
- $140K75th
- $179K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $121,240 | $10,103 | $58.29 |
| Median | $110,760 | $9,230 | $53.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $94,170 | $7,848 | $45.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $139,520 | $11,627 | $67.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($123,570) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $121,240 | $110,760 | $78,700 | $179,020 | 370 |
| Illinois | $123,570 | $121,560 | $79,120 | $176,110 | 520 |
| United States | $129,980 | $125,040 | $79,420 | $182,880 | 21,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Engineers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $121,240, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $88,262 a year, or $7,355 a month and $3,395 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 | $90,515 | $7,543 |
| Working in IL | $88,262 | $7,355 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for chemical 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 $121,240 buys what about $117,033 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$121,240
- Peoria$108,770
Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers
Houston, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,750).
- Houston, TX$155,750
- Austin, TX$149,140
- Dallas, TX$147,410
- Lake Charles, LA$144,900
- Trenton, NJ$144,720
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Chemical Engineers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Chicago?
$58.29 an hour on average, and $53.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $94,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $88,262 a year ($7,355 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $121,240.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($129,980).
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 17-2041; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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