Salary guide, May 2025
Polymer / Plastics 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 Materials Engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $99,590 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $76,220 and $136,520.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $13,270 below the national median of $112,860, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2131 Materials 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $65,160 | $76,220 | $99,590 | $136,520 | $160,150 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $31.33 | $36.65 | $47.88 | $65.64 | $77.00 |
BLS estimated 250 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 0.38.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $72,300 | $88,080 | $112,860 | $142,720 | $175,720 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $34.76 | $42.35 | $54.26 | $68.61 | $84.48 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Polymer / Plastics Engineer median is $99,590. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 1.82 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.38 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 | $63,370 | $97,760 | $134,300 |
| May 2025 | $76,220 | $99,590 | $136,520 |
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 17-2131 Materials 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 17-2131 Materials 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $96,790 | $84,360 to $112,490 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $85,130 | $82,720 to $102,910 |
National page · Polymer / Plastics Engineer ranked across metros