Expert Materials Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 12 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Des Plaines, Aurora, East Chicago, Evanston, Libertyville.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $126,640 |
| 25th | $132,004 |
| 50th (median) | $134,189 |
| 75th | $151,314 |
| 90th | $178,584 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Materials Engineer salary of $134,189 is worth about $129,500 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 $134,189, 35% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Systems | too few | 2 |
| Natrion | too few | 2 |
| Uop | 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.