Mid-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 187 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $87,547 |
| 25th | $87,558 |
| 50th (median) | $90,106 |
| 75th | $99,240 |
| 90th | $110,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $75,276 | $74,693 | $80,000 | 164 |
| FY2021 | $78,000 | $76,149 | $82,666 | 140 |
| FY2022 | $80,000 | $78,208 | $90,000 | 169 |
| FY2023 | $83,107 | $80,309 | $95,014 | 124 |
| FY2024 | $85,000 | $83,013 | $90,000 | 121 |
| FY2025 | $90,106 | $87,547 | $98,664 | 109 |
| FY2026 | $91,000 | $90,106 | $99,588 | 78 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median mid-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $90,106 is worth about $87,000 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 $90,106, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tech Mahindra | $87,548 | 24 |
| CNH Industrial America | too few | 9 |
| Gamma Technologies | too few | 7 |
| HCLTech | too few | 6 |
| Intellectt | too few | 6 |
| Caresoft Global Technologies | too few | 4 |
| SAI Advanced Power Solutions | too few | 4 |
| Stantec Consulting Services | too few | 4 |
| Jingdiao North America | too few | 3 |
| Priamba Soft | 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 | $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.