Chemical Engineers Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $119,490 -1.9% vs national
Median hourly $57.45
10th percentile $74,710
90th percentile $177,340
Employed locally 360
National median $121,860

Compare Chemical Engineers salary & buying power

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Chemical Engineers
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $74,710
    25th
    $95,750
    50th (median)
    $119,490
    75th
    $151,620
    90th
    $177,340

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Chemical Engineers salary vs area income 134% Median Chemical Engineers salary is 34% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chemical Engineers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Tulsa, OK $169,250
    Albuquerque, NM $163,380
    Oklahoma $160,990
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $152,290
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $151,360
    New Mexico $147,290

    Nearby metros — Chemical Engineers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $129,930
    St. Louis, MO-IL $127,100
    Evansville, IN $120,990
    Illinois $120,360
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $120,300
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $114,120

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Industrial Engineers $100,940
    Civil Engineers $100,280
    Mechanical Engineers $100,390
    Architects, Except Landscape and Naval $79,240
    Electrical Engineers $109,010
    Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians $76,590

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chemical Engineers make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Chemical Engineers in Chicago, IL-IN is $57.45, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $86.07 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Chemical Engineers salaries?

    The median Chemical Engineers salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 1.9% below the national median of $121,860. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chemical Engineers in Chicago?

    Entry-level Chemical Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $74,710 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $95,750.