Industrial Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 461 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Buffalo Grove, Elgin, Naperville, Lisle, Vernon Hills.
Also listed as: Manufacturing Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $74,880 |
| 25th | $87,610 |
| 50th (median) | $98,000 |
| 75th | $115,000 |
| 90th | $135,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $76,670 | $67,750 | $89,900 | 203 |
| FY2021 | $80,000 | $70,000 | $102,484 | 177 |
| FY2022 | $91,354 | $76,093 | $108,680 | 171 |
| FY2023 | $94,203 | $80,000 | $114,625 | 218 |
| FY2024 | $89,981 | $83,970 | $110,000 | 209 |
| FY2025 | $97,100 | $87,110 | $117,016 | 260 |
| FY2026 | $100,000 | $87,610 | $113,850 | 201 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Industrial Engineer salary of $98,000 is worth about $94,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Industrial Engineers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $101,760 in May 2025 (12,750 employed). The H-1B median here is $98,000, 4% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| VAStek | $87,610 | 18 |
| Flextronics International | $108,925 | 10 |
| Intellectt | $92,872 | 10 |
| Abbott Laboratories | too few | 8 |
| Medline Industries | too few | 8 |
| Ryder System | too few | 8 |
| Molex | too few | 7 |
| Amazon | too few | 6 |
| CNH Industrial America | too few | 5 |
| Illinois Tool Works | too few | 5 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $72,200 | 89 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,000 | 211 |
| Senior · Level III | $111,999 | 91 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,000 | 59 |
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 | $69,826 | $72,200 | 89 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $87,610 | $90,000 | 211 |
| Senior · Level III | $104,000 | $111,999 | 91 |
| Expert · Level IV | $120,370 | $130,000 | 59 |
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.