Engineering Professor salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 19 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Evanston, Hammond, Dekalb, Crystal Lake.
Also listed as: Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Assistant Professor of Engineering
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $84,135 |
| 25th | $105,091 |
| 50th (median) | $115,565 |
| 75th | $135,104 |
| 90th | $150,455 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $81,113 | $78,000 | $94,630 | 16 |
| FY2021 | $111,848 | $80,069 | $115,931 | 10 |
| FY2022 | $93,825 | $82,587 | $104,670 | 11 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2024 | $120,370 | $81,575 | $131,500 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $125,836 | $110,000 | $140,000 | 13 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 6 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Engineering Professor salary of $115,565 is worth about $111,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $110,310 in May 2025 (430 employed). The H-1B median here is $115,565, 5% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | too few | 8 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | too few | 5 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | too few | 2 |
| Purdue University | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 8 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 4 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.