Materials Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 43 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Des Plaines, Aurora, East Chicago, Evanston, Libertyville.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $64,685 |
| 25th | $79,196 |
| 50th (median) | $95,000 |
| 75th | $125,022 |
| 90th | $135,721 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $80,642 | $69,264 | $93,000 | 25 |
| FY2021 | $86,445 | $74,776 | $90,418 | 25 |
| FY2022 | $78,800 | $66,425 | $98,875 | 22 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2024 | $92,674 | $75,462 | $111,063 | 24 |
| FY2025 | $90,102 | $74,250 | $118,142 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $104,645 | $83,819 | $129,024 | 23 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Materials Engineer salary of $95,000 is worth about $91,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Materials Engineers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $99,590 in May 2025 (250 employed). The H-1B median here is $95,000, 5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | too few | 9 |
| ArcelorMittal USA Research | too few | 2 |
| Engineering Systems | too few | 2 |
| Institute of Gas Technology | too few | 2 |
| Masonite | too few | 2 |
| Natrion | too few | 2 |
| Uop | too few | 2 |
| Usg | 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 | 6 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,000 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $94,000 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | $134,189 | 12 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $83,637 | $85,000 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $78,478 | $94,000 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | $125,653 | $134,189 | 12 |
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.