Mechanical Engineer salary in Chicago 2026
Mechanical Engineer salary in Chicago, IL — median (P50) $235,950 base from a US market band (thin LCA cell). P25 $185,900 is a typical floor; P90 $345,917 is the top of this cell. Not total compensation.
| P25 | Median (P50) | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $185,900 | $235,950 | $293,150 | $345,917 |
What P25, P50, P75 and P90 mean for Mechanical Engineer in Chicago
P50 is the median Mechanical Engineer salary in Chicago in this cell. Half of sample bases sit at or below $235,950.
P25 ($185,900) is a realistic floor for early-career or Level I LCA wages. P75 ($293,150) is a common negotiation target. P90 ($345,917) is the upper tail — not a typical offer.
Take-home vs Mechanical Engineer base in IL
These figures are pre-tax base. Federal, FICA and IL wage tax change the check. Run the paycheck calculator for IL before you accept a cut versus a remote offer.
Mechanical Engineer H-1B wages and nearby cities
No Certified LCA rows for Mechanical Engineer in Chicago in this mock — the band is a US market estimate so the URL is still useful.
Same title in other metros: Seattle median $261,690; Austin median $118,400; New York median $283,140; Boston median $257,400; San Francisco median $296,010; Los Angeles median $253,110; Dallas median $231,660.
H-1B sponsors →Mechanical Engineer in Seattle →Mechanical Engineer in Austin →Mechanical Engineer in New York →Mechanical Engineer in Boston →Mechanical Engineer in San Francisco →Software Engineer in Chicago →Data Scientist in Chicago →Product Manager in Chicago →DevOps Engineer in Chicago →
Frequently asked questions
What is the median Mechanical Engineer salary in Chicago?
P50 is $235,950 base per year (a US market band (thin LCA cell)).
What is a typical Mechanical Engineer salary range in Chicago?
P25–P75 is $185,900–$293,150. P90 is $345,917.
Is this total compensation?
No. Base only. Equity and bonus are omitted.
Is this BLS or Levels.fyi?
No. Mock Certified LCA plus a market estimate when the cell is empty.
Can H-1B offers be below P25?
Yes, if prevailing wage and level allow it. Compare the LCA city on /h1b-sponsors.
Should I take a lower Mechanical Engineer offer in Chicago?
Model after-tax pay. Cost of housing in Chicago is not in this table.
Mechanical Engineer jobs in Chicago
WhatJobs listings for this page — tap through to apply on the employer site.
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HVAC Sales Engineer
$60,000
Yellowstone Local · Pleasanton
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Engineering Manager
Up to $130,000/year, depending on experience Job Type: Full Time Experience: Leadership / Senior
Advance CNC Machining · Grove City
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Controls Engineering Manager
$120,000 – $150,000
Extra Resource Staffing · Tacoma
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Electrical Engineering Manager
$110,000 – $135,000
Wellons, Inc. · Vancouver
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Maintenance & Test Engineering Manager
$112,669 – $193,147
Siemens · Chicago
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Lead Site Reliability Engineer
$128,470
Caterpillar Inc · Chicago
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