What the data says about mechanical engineer pay in Chicago
After a simplified 13% national tax estimate that is about US$7,400 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
Mechanical Engineer pay in Chicago: national and in-state ranking
On a United States league table of 21 metros, Chicago comes 16th. One place higher is Philadelphia at US$104,410, one lower is Atlanta at US$102,020, and San Jose tops the list.
Chicago is the only observed IL metro for this role, so there is no in-state average to compare; the national and metro ranking above is the better reference.
Take-home, rent and buying power for Chicago mechanical engineers
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$102,100).
Cash rank and buying-power rank match for Chicago: 16th of 21.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$7,400 monthly (13% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 22% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$3,870 in the black.
If you compared Chicago with similarly priced cities
New York (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$109,990, 8% more than Chicago; modeled monthly leftover is US$510 higher.
In Los Angeles — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$123,900 (+21% vs Chicago), and the modeled budget leaves US$1,410 more each month.
A mechanical engineer moving from Chicago to Houston (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median rise 23% to US$125,350, with US$1,510 more left over monthly in our model.
Where Mechanical Engineer ranks among Chicago jobs
Of the 9 roles we track in Chicago, Mechanical Engineer is 5th by median; the highest is Lawyer (US$165,660).
Closest neighbours in the Chicago list: Project Manager at US$105,320 (+3%) and Financial Analyst at US$101,750 (0%).
Where Chicago stands for junior and senior mechanical engineers
Starting pay holds up better than senior pay here. The 10th percentile places 19th nationally among observed metros; the 90th places 20th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$217,530 at the 90th percentile, +38% against Chicago.
How wide mechanical engineer pay runs in Chicago
Pay is spread out: US$66,900 at the 10th percentile to US$157,720 at the 90th (2.4×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.