Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 89 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Lisle, Oak Brook, Westmont, Des Plaines, Franklin Park.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,200 |
| 25th | $70,200 |
| 50th (median) | $75,000 |
| 75th | $83,000 |
| 90th | $92,873 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $60,160 | $59,613 | $65,000 | 64 |
| FY2021 | $64,126 | $61,360 | $70,000 | 64 |
| FY2022 | $64,938 | $63,731 | $72,750 | 60 |
| FY2023 | $68,820 | $65,000 | $75,750 | 50 |
| FY2024 | $68,000 | $65,458 | $73,000 | 53 |
| FY2025 | $72,696 | $70,200 | $77,220 | 57 |
| FY2026 | $78,660 | $73,835 | $90,063 | 32 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $75,000 is worth about $72,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $102,070 in May 2025 (6,900 employed). The H-1B median here is $75,000, 27% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | too few | 5 |
| HCLTech | too few | 4 |
| Hengli America | too few | 4 |
| Schmoll America | too few | 3 |
| Technosoft Engineering | too few | 3 |
| American Chrome Chicago Company | too few | 2 |
| Broad-Ocean Motor Houston | too few | 2 |
| Global Economic Advantage | too few | 2 |
| Stantec Consulting Services | too few | 2 |
| Traton R&D | 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 | $75,000 | 89 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,106 | 187 |
| Senior · Level III | $108,160 | 71 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,144 | 82 |
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 | $70,200 | $75,000 | 89 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $87,547 | $90,106 | 187 |
| Senior · Level III | $106,870 | $108,160 | 71 |
| Expert · Level IV | $123,635 | $130,144 | 82 |
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.