Salary guide, May 2025
Senior Mechanical Design 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 Architectural and Engineering Managers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $163,430 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $133,100 and $200,400.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $7,840 below the national median of $171,270, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-9041 Architectural and Engineering Managers
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
What should you know about chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $112,440 | $133,100 | $163,430 | $200,400 | $235,240 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $54.06 | $63.99 | $78.57 | $96.34 | $113.10 |
BLS estimated 6,670 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 1.04.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $120,810 | $139,360 | $171,270 | $212,500 | $262,760 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $58.08 | $67.00 | $82.34 | $102.16 | $126.33 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Senior Mechanical Design Engineer median is $163,430. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 2.99 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.04 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 | $127,740 | $159,110 | $177,840 |
| May 2025 | $133,100 | $163,430 | $200,400 |
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 11-9041 Architectural and Engineering Managers, 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 11-9041 Architectural and Engineering Managers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Niles, MI | $146,850 | $124,750 to $171,210 |
| Kenosha, WI | $139,120 | $126,370 to $170,700 |
National page · Senior Mechanical Design Engineer ranked across metros