Salary guide, May 2025
Reliability 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 Industrial Engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $101,760 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $82,260 and $126,580.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $680 below the national median of $102,440, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2112 Industrial 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74,420 | $82,260 | $101,760 | $126,580 | $155,480 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.78 | $39.55 | $48.92 | $60.86 | $74.75 |
BLS estimated 12,750 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 1.2.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74,370 | $83,600 | $102,440 | $129,250 | $159,860 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.76 | $40.19 | $49.25 | $62.14 | $76.85 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Reliability Engineer median is $101,760. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 1.86 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.2 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 | $81,230 | $100,940 | $123,820 |
| May 2025 | $82,260 | $101,760 | $126,580 |
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 17-2112 Industrial 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 17-2112 Industrial 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 | $94,690 | $76,340 to $113,940 |
| Niles, MI | $92,820 | $76,350 to $112,910 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area employs 12,750 individuals in the Industrial Engineers occupation. The current annual median is $101,760, showing a $820 increase since May 2024. The middle-band width is $44,320. This mapping covers a broader category, and BLS does not isolate the Reliability Engineer title. Manufacturing Headhunters assess candidates on RCM, FMEA, and vibration analysis.
Candidates often hold a CMRP or ASQ CRE for this plant floor work. These specific duties do not imply separate wage measurement by the BLS.
Nationally, the annual median for Industrial Engineers is $102,440. The Chicago metro median sits slightly lower than this national standard. For Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing, the national median reaches $127,140. Chemical Manufacturing reflects a national median of $118,700. These industry-specific benchmarks reflect the pay typical in high-asset intensity manufacturing roles. BLS data omits pay elements like signing bonuses or retention payouts.
Looking at nearby metros, Kankakee reports an annual median of $94,690. Niles reports a median of $92,820. The local P25 for Chicago is $82,260, while the P75 is $126,580. The location quotient for the Chicago region is 1.2, showing a strong concentration of the occupation. The $820 median change reflects the shifts observed between the May 2024 and May 2025 releases. These figures represent the wider occupational mapping provided.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What are the primary credentials for this role?
Industry recruiters look for candidates with CMRP or ASQ CRE certifications. Proficiency in RCM, FMEA, and vibration analysis is also required.
How do nearby labor markets influence these findings?
Kankakee and Niles report lower median wages of $94,690 and $92,820 compared to the Chicago metro median of $101,760. Concentration metrics like location quotients confirm regional activity but do not determine pay.
Are these wages specific to reliability engineers?
The BLS data measures the broader Industrial Engineers occupation and does not break out specific wages for Reliability Engineers. Consequently, these figures are based on the wider occupational category.
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