Salary guide, May 2025
Packaging Engineer pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $102,070 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $83,140 and $130,310.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $2,040 below the national median of $104,110, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
What should you know about chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $66,900 | $83,140 | $102,070 | $130,310 | $157,720 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $32.16 | $39.97 | $49.07 | $62.65 | $75.83 |
BLS estimated 6,900 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 0.8.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $73,990 | $84,130 | $104,110 | $132,590 | $164,340 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.57 | $40.45 | $50.05 | $63.75 | $79.01 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Packaging Engineer median is $102,070. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 1.87 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.8 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $81,600 | $100,390 | $127,210 |
| May 2025 | $83,140 | $102,070 | $130,310 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | $81,840 | $76,200 to $105,670 |
| Niles, MI | $106,320 | $83,920 to $135,590 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area shows a median annual wage of $102,070 for Packaging Engineers, tracked under Mechanical Engineers. This represents a medianChange of 1,680 from the previous May 2024 figure of $100,390. The middle-band width is 47,170. Manufacturing Headhunters notes that these professionals are responsible for packaging specs, line equipment operation, and testing protocols.
These tasks vary based on the specific plant environment and product requirements.
Nationally, the mechanical engineering median is $104,110, with a middle-band width of 48,460. Chicago sits lower than the national occupational level. National industry rows show medians of $140,600 for Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing and $125,380 for Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing. These national figures demonstrate the high wage potential for engineers in specialized manufacturing industries.
Regional comparison metros show distinct wage differences. The Niles area reports a higher median than Chicago. It is important to remember that BLS data excludes variable components like performance bonuses, sign-on awards, and equity. Because the OEWS survey measures the broad Mechanical Engineer occupation, these figures do not distinguish between packaging engineers and other sub-fields. Recruiters should view these medians as a baseline and account for additional pay components and industry-specific demand when building competitive offers.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the Chicago median compare to the national occupational level?
The local median of $102,070 is lower than the national mechanical engineer median of $104,110. This highlights a gap between local market pay and broader U.S. occupational averages.
What does the middle-band width tell us about Chicago’s market?
The P25/P75 middle-band width of 47,170 defines the salary spread for the middle 50% of local mechanical engineers. This indicates the degree of pay variance among peers.
Why are the nearby metro medians for Kankakee and Niles different?
Wage levels vary by local economic concentration. These figures represent the occupational pay for mechanical engineers in their respective metros, regardless of their industry focus.
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