Senior Chemical Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 22 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Des Plaines, North Chicago, Lemont, Glendale Heights, Elk Grove Village.
Also listed as: Process Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $93,232 |
| 25th | $122,093 |
| 50th (median) | $130,390 |
| 75th | $138,731 |
| 90th | $158,951 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2021 | $104,100 | $98,827 | $113,000 | 11 |
| FY2022 | $110,000 | $105,685 | $115,000 | 11 |
| FY2023 | $111,888 | $99,092 | $120,000 | 12 |
| FY2024 | $120,000 | $116,499 | $132,000 | 19 |
| FY2025 | $130,526 | $120,000 | $149,511 | 13 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median senior Chemical Engineer salary of $130,390 is worth about $125,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemical Engineers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $110,760 in May 2025 (370 employed). The H-1B median here is $130,390, 18% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Uop | too few | 6 |
| AbbVie | too few | 4 |
| Medefil | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $78,832 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 3 |
| Senior · Level III | $130,390 | 22 |
| Expert · Level IV | $143,924 | 10 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $78,832 | $78,832 | 15 |
| Senior · Level III | $111,696 | $130,390 | 22 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,837 | $143,924 | 10 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.