Salary distribution
Where Illinois chemical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $95,750 and $150,260, with a median of $120,360.
Chemical Engineers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 48 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $100,043. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 16 | $78,832 |
| Level II — qualified | 11 | $98,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 13 | $130,526 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $134,585 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemical Engineers in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| UOP LLC | SR ADVANCED R&D ENGINEER/SCIENTIST | 4 | $135,663 |
| UChicago Argonne, LLC | Fuel/Chemical Production Technology Assessment | 3 | $90,063 |
| Medefil, Inc. | Validation Engineering Manager | 3 | $160,000 |
| ABBVIE INC. | SENIOR SCIENTIST I, ENGINEERING | 3 | $135,000 |
| TECHEVON LLC. | CHEMICAL ENGINEER | 2 | $80,000 |
| Particulate Solid Research, Inc. | Project Leader | 2 | $127,888 |
| RNA CORPORATION | CHEMICAL ENGINEER | 2 | $99,416 |
| Institute of Gas Technology | Pilot Plant Operations Process Engineer | 2 | $109,740 |
| Archer Daniels Midland Company | Research Process Engineer | 2 | $92,500 |
| University of Illinois | Visiting Assistant Research Scientist | 2 | $69,979 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Scientist at GDB International, Inc.$185,000NashvilleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-374271
- Technologist at BP America Inc.$108,243ChicagoWage Level IDecided Sep 25, 2025I-200-25261-318212
- CHEMICAL ENGINEER at TECHEVON LLC.$80,000ELK GROVE VILLAGEWage Level IDecided Sep 11, 2025I-200-25247-286222
- Fuel/Chemical Production Technology Assessment at UChicago Argonne, LLC$90,063LemontWage Level IIDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25245-281131
- CHEMICAL ENGINEER at TECHEVON LLC.$80,000CHICAGOWage Level IDecided Aug 29, 2025I-200-25234-262139
- Staff Scientist at University of Chicago$79,019ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided Aug 19, 2025I-200-25224-236936
- Utilities Engineer at CSL Behring L.L.C.$110,000BradleyWage Level IIDecided Jul 21, 2025I-200-25195-173604
- Advanced R&D Engineer/ Scientist at UOP LLC$130,676DES PLAINESDecided Jul 16, 2025I-200-25190-161693
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Chemical Engineers pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Chemical Engineers specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 20 certified offers. The most common variant is Senior Scientist at a median of $118,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Scientist | GDB International, Inc. | 5 | $118,000 |
| CHEMICAL ENGINEER | TECHEVON LLC. | 5 | $80,000 |
| SR ADVANCED R&D ENGINEER/SCIENTIST | UOP LLC | 4 | $135,663 |
| Validation Engineering Manager | Medefil, Inc. | 3 | $160,000 |
| Associate Project Engineer | Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp. | 3 | $78,832 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemical Engineers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 45 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $114,084.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | UOP LLC | 22 | $114,084 |
| Professional services | UChicago Argonne, LLC | 16 | $90,272 |
| Education | University of Illinois | 5 | $61,428 |
| Retail and wholesale | GDB International, Inc. | 1 | $185,000 |
| Energy and utilities | BP America Inc. | 1 | $108,243 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 5.0 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Chemistry
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Production and Processing
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Complex Problem Solving
Technical
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- 02
Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- 03
Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
- 04
Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- 05
Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- 06
Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
- 07
Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
- 08
Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+2.3%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for chemical engineers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$119,490
Compare Chemical Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemical Engineers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Illinois is $120,360.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Chemical Engineers?
- The Illinois median is +6.9% versus the BLS national figure of $112,605.
- What is the salary range for Chemical Engineers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $74,230 and the 90th-percentile at $171,110, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Chemical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 2.3% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Chemical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.