Chemical Engineers · Illinois

Chemical Engineers Salary in Illinois

Chemical Engineers in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $121,560 —2.8% below the national median of $125,040. That ranks IL #15 of 41 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$121,560
Median hourly
$58.44
Entry level (P10)
$79,120
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$176,110
90th percentile
Employment
520
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-2.8%
U.S. $125,040

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$79,120
$95,800
$121,560
$140,010
$79,120$121,560$176,110
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $121,560.

Employment is only 0.63× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Highest-paying states for chemical engineers

All 41 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New Mexico$158,190$76.051601.33
2Virginia$136,380$65.577901.42
3Alabama$135,030$64.926002.08
4Louisiana$134,800$64.817302.80
5Delaware$133,670$64.273705.59
6Texas$132,750$63.822,6101.37
7West Virginia$129,210$62.121601.65
8New York$129,060$62.055400.41
9Washington$128,290$61.686501.36
10Oklahoma$127,790$61.441100.46

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Civil Engineers$99,760$100,840
Industrial Engineers$100,540$102,440
Mechanical Engineers$102,680$104,110
Electrical Engineers$107,860$120,630
Engineers, All Other$111,930$122,930
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$81,780$99,280

Frequently asked questions

How much do chemical engineers make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for chemical engineers in Illinois is $121,560, or $58.44 per hour. That is 2.8% below the national median of $125,040.

What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $79,120 per year ($38.04/hour). The 25th percentile is $95,800.

How many people work as chemical engineers in Illinois?

About 520 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for chemical engineers?

Illinois ranks #15 of 41 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.63x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Which state pays chemical engineers the most?

New Mexico has the highest median wage at $158,190 per year, followed by Virginia ($136,380) and Alabama ($135,030).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes