Mechanical Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 21 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Batavia, Merrillville.
Median salary$95,100
Middle 50%$84.9k–$111.4k
vs. national median+7%comparison median $88,800
Filings21FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k$130k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,306 |
| 25th | $84,900 |
| 50th (median) | $95,100 |
| 75th | $111,400 |
| 90th | $111,405 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 2 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2022 | $80,900 | $80,891 | $88,250 | 14 |
| FY2023 | $92,602 | $82,700 | $103,700 | 17 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2025 | $84,906 | $84,900 | $96,825 | 14 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 7 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Mechanical Engineer salary of $95,100 is worth about $91,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Fermi Forward Discovery Group | $96,250 | 20 |
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 | 2 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $84,906 | 10 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 6 |
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 | $76,960 | $84,906 | 10 |
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.