Salary guide, May 2025
Polymer / Plastics Engineer pay in Illinois
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 Illinois was $126,620 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $91,570 and $136,710.
The Illinois median is $13,760 above 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 illinois?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $71,780 | $91,570 | $126,620 | $136,710 | $165,710 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $34.51 | $44.03 | $60.87 | $65.73 | $79.67 |
BLS estimated 290 workers employed in this occupation in Illinois. Location quotient: 0.33.
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 two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $78,410 | $105,980 | $129,630 |
| May 2025 | $91,570 | $126,620 | $136,710 |
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, Illinois. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $114,670 | $83,430 to $130,900 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $85,130 | $82,720 to $102,910 |
All roles in Illinois · National page · Polymer / Plastics Engineer ranked across metros