Mid-level Industrial Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 211 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $87,110 |
| 25th | $87,610 |
| 50th (median) | $90,000 |
| 75th | $101,750 |
| 90th | $116,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $77,125 | $73,875 | $83,500 | 96 |
| FY2021 | $80,000 | $76,086 | $83,012 | 65 |
| FY2022 | $84,000 | $76,745 | $94,100 | 72 |
| FY2023 | $87,360 | $80,000 | $95,000 | 95 |
| FY2024 | $87,110 | $83,970 | $99,196 | 96 |
| FY2025 | $90,000 | $87,110 | $105,000 | 118 |
| FY2026 | $90,550 | $87,610 | $100,000 | 93 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median mid-level Industrial Engineer salary of $90,000 is worth about $86,900 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 $90,000, 12% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| VAStek | $87,610 | 18 |
| Flextronics International | too few | 5 |
| Cintal | too few | 4 |
| Illinois Tool Works | too few | 4 |
| Medline Industries | too few | 4 |
| Molex | too few | 4 |
| EY | too few | 3 |
| CNH Industrial America | too few | 3 |
| Intellectt | too few | 3 |
| KB Machines US Holdings | 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 | $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.