Expert Industrial Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 59 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $120,370 |
| 25th | $121,701 |
| 50th (median) | $130,000 |
| 75th | $153,000 |
| 90th | $177,610 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $105,000 | $99,091 | $120,355 | 23 |
| FY2021 | $120,000 | $106,642 | $128,731 | 27 |
| FY2022 | $110,250 | $108,680 | $146,625 | 33 |
| FY2023 | $120,000 | $114,745 | $139,000 | 34 |
| FY2024 | $141,399 | $115,000 | $161,206 | 29 |
| FY2025 | $135,000 | $121,701 | $155,750 | 32 |
| FY2026 | $123,008 | $120,370 | $148,674 | 27 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Industrial Engineer salary of $130,000 is worth about $125,500 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 $130,000, 28% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Discover Bank | too few | 4 |
| AbbVie | too few | 2 |
| Abbott Laboratories | too few | 2 |
| Federal-Mogul Motorparts | too few | 2 |
| GAINSystems | too few | 2 |
| Id Logistics Warehousing | too few | 2 |
| International Motors | too few | 2 |
| Mondelez International Service | too few | 2 |
| NewCold USA Services | too few | 2 |
| Shure Incorporated | 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 | $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.