Salary guide, May 2025
Plant 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.
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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 Plant 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 |