Chemical Engineer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Chemical Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $110,760 a year ($53.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $179,020 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $125,040. Pay here is 9% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $121,560. There are 0.08 chemical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $121,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,700 | $37.84 |
| 25th percentile | $94,170 | $45.27 |
| Median | $110,760 | $53.25 |
| 75th percentile | $139,520 | $67.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $179,020 | $86.07 |
| Average (mean) | $121,240 | $58.29 |
Half of chemical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,230 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,615 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,260 |
| Weekly | $2,130 |
| Hourly | $53.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $110,760 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $133,450 | 110 |
| Evansville, IN | $120,990 | 60 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $118,010 | n/a |
| Peoria, IL | $111,880 | 30 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $110,960 | 40 |
| Columbus, IN | $109,190 | 40 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $107,610 | 300 |
Highest-paying states for chemical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 |
| Virginia | $136,380 |
| Alabama | $135,030 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 |
| Delaware | $133,670 |
| Texas | $132,750 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 |
| New York | $129,060 |
| Washington | $128,290 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 |
See Chemical Engineer pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $101,760 | $48.92 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,160 | $48.16 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| Electrical Engineer | $113,520 | $54.58 |
| Engineers, All Other | $121,910 | $58.61 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,860 | $64.35 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
| Environmental Engineer | $110,700 | $53.22 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $125,650 | $60.41 |
| Materials Engineer | $99,590 | $47.88 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $98,670 | $47.44 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $114,180 | $54.89 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $81,790 | $39.32 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical engineer make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for chemical engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $110,760 a year, or $53.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $179,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical engineers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of chemical engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $179,020 a year. The top 25% earn $139,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,700 a year, and a quarter of chemical engineers earn $94,170 or less.
How many chemical engineers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 370 chemical engineers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.