SOC 17-2041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Engineers — Illinois
Illinois · 2 metro areas compared
At $121,560, median pay for Chemical Engineers in Illinois tracks the national median of $125,040 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $121,560, median pay for Chemical Engineers in Illinois tracks the national median of $125,040 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $95,800 and $140,010. The lowest tenth earn under $79,120, while the highest tenth earn more than $176,110.
Employment stands at 520, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 41 states with published data for this occupation, Illinois ranks 15th by median wage. Peoria leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $111,880. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 68th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,120 | −36.7% |
| 25th | $95,800 | −23.4% |
| Median (50th) | $121,560 | −2.8% |
| 75th | $140,010 | +12.0% |
| 90th | $176,110 | +40.8% |
| Mean | $123,570 | −1.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $121,560 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$121,560as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$121,560US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $121,560 a year, 2.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $79,120 to $176,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 520 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 15th of 41 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Peoria, at $111,880.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Engineers in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $121,560, or $58.44 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $125,040, so pay in Illinois is 2.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Illinois earns more than $176,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $79,120 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Peoria, at $111,880 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 520 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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