Electrical Engineers Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, electrical engineers earn $109,010 at the median — $52.41 an hour. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $169K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $105,232 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $109K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About electrical engineers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level electrical engineers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $169K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Electrical Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $144K | +29% | 1,580 |
| California | $140K | +25% | 23,650 |
| District of Columbia | $139K | +24% | 520 |
| New Hampshire | $132K | +18% | 1,420 |
| Washington | $131K | +17% | 10,010 |
| Idaho | $129K | +15% | 920 |
| Massachusetts | $126K | +13% | 4,780 |
| New Jersey | $125K | +12% | 3,620 |
| Maryland | $124K | +11% | 4,380 |
| Virginia | $122K | +9% | 5,990 |
| Vermont | $118K | +5% | 910 |
| Alabama | $116K | +4% | 4,470 |
| New York | $113K | +1% | 7,720 |
| Wyoming | $112K | -0% | 260 |
| Delaware | $112K | -0% | 600 |
| Maine | $111K | -1% | 970 |
| Arizona | $111K | -1% | 4,970 |
| Tennessee | $110K | -2% | 2,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $110K | -2% | 7,660 |
| Oregon | $110K | -2% | 3,030 |
| Alaska | $109K | -3% | 380 |
| Louisiana | $109K | -3% | 850 |
| North Dakota | $109K | -3% | 260 |
| West Virginia | $108K | -3% | 610 |
| Florida | $108K | -3% | 7,400 |
| North Carolina | $108K | -4% | 6,560 |
| Utah | $108K | -4% | 1,920 |
| Iowa | $107K | -4% | 1,250 |
| Missouri | $106K | -5% | 2,920 |
| Texas | $106K | -6% | 15,470 |
| Minnesota | $105K | -6% | 3,430 |
| Hawaii | $105K | -6% | 980 |
| Nevada | $105K | -6% | 740 |
| Rhode Island | $105K | -7% | 660 |
| South Carolina | $104K | -7% | 2,450 |
| Oklahoma | $104K | -7% | 1,850 |
| Georgia | $104K | -7% | 4,580 |
| Illinois | $104K | -7% | 5,820 |
| Nebraska | $104K | -7% | 1,080 |
| Connecticut | $103K | -8% | 2,920 |
| Michigan | $103K | -8% | 10,840 |
| South Dakota | $102K | -9% | 440 |
| Indiana | $102K | -9% | 3,860 |
| Mississippi | $101K | -10% | 1,230 |
| Ohio | $100K | -11% | 6,030 |
| Montana | $99K | -11% | 650 |
| Wisconsin | $99K | -11% | 3,970 |
| Kansas | $98K | -13% | 2,320 |
| Arkansas | $97K | -14% | 930 |
| Kentucky | $96K | -15% | 1,600 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track electrical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
How much do electrical engineers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $109,010 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,070, and experienced electrical engineers can clear $168,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,640/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 26.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a electrical engineers salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median electrical engineers salary is worth about $105,232 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do electrical engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.