Mechanical Engineers in Illinois. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Mechanical Engineers in Illinois earned a median annual wage of $99,730 in 2024, about 5% below the US median of $104,651. That gap is modest by state comparison standards, and it nearly disappears once you account for cost of living. Illinois's price index sits at 99.5, essentially at the national baseline, so a dollar earned here buys about as much as the national average dollar.
The spread between the bottom and top of the pay range is worth noting. Engineers at the 10th percentile earned $67,200, while those at the 90th earned $143,500. Top earners in Illinois make roughly twice what those starting out take home. That range reflects how much experience, specialization, and industry sector move the needle in this occupation.
The mean wage of $104,460 runs above the median by about $4,700. A portion of senior engineers pulling the average up accounts for that gap. For most people in the field, the median is the more representative figure.
BLS projects employment for Mechanical Engineers to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, faster than average. Illinois's roughly 9,920 employed engineers in this occupation put it among the larger state markets by headcount, which tends to produce a steadier pipeline of openings as the workforce turns over.
One thing the national gap doesn't fully capture: Illinois draws from both manufacturing-heavy downstate economies and the broader Chicago metro, where engineering roles span industrial equipment, transportation systems, and energy infrastructure. That mix keeps the market from tilting too far toward any single sector.
Salary distribution
Where Illinois mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $83,800 and $130,730, with a median of $102,680.
Mechanical Engineers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 633 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $100,298. 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 | 124 | $77,235 |
| Level II — qualified | 268 | $95,680 |
| Level III — experienced | 121 | $116,432 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 103 | $130,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterpillar Inc. | Performance / Simulation / Application Engineer | 58 | $100,298 |
| Rivian Automotive, LLC | Sr. Process Engineer | 44 | $123,981 |
| HCL AMERICA INC | Design Lead | 22 | $90,106 |
| Gotion Illinois New Energy Inc. | Mechanical Engineer | 21 | $115,000 |
| Traton R&D US LLC | Project Engineer | 20 | $136,422 |
| TECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC | Mechanical Engineer | 19 | $87,548 |
| CNH Industrial America LLC | Data Acquisition and Analysis Engineer | 14 | $120,250 |
| RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC | Sr. Process Engineer | 14 | $119,910 |
| Caresoft Global Technologies Inc | Program Manager | 9 | $99,079 |
| CATERPILLAR INC. | Control Systems Senior Engineer | 9 | $95,680 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Global Supply Manager, CapEx at Rivian Automotive, LLC$120,000NormalWage Level IIIDecided —I-200-26084-729815
- Design Engineer at DSM-H LLC$95,680DecaturWage Level IIDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-727055
- Senior Researcher at USG Corporation$125,000LibertyvilleWage Level IVDecided Mar 30, 2026I-200-26082-723582
- Mechanical Engineer at Cache Energy Storage Inc.$115,000ChampaignWage Level IDecided Mar 30, 2026I-200-26082-722461
- Senior Staff Engineer, Research and Development at Gamma Technologies LLC$106,870WestmontWage Level IIIDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-719335
- Performance / Simulation / Application Engineer at Caterpillar Inc.$113,443ChampaignWage Level IIIDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26077-712882
- Program Manager at Caresoft Global Technologies Inc$94,255AssumptionWage Level IIIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-708639
- Mechanical Engineer at Caresoft Global Technologies Inc$80,807AssumptionWage Level IIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-708242
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.
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Mechanical 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.
Mechanical Engineers specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 354 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $87,574.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | Gotion Illinois New Energy Inc. | 104 | $87,574 |
| Design Engineer | Caterpillar Inc. | 56 | $91,936 |
| Engineer | Gamma Technologies LLC | 35 | $97,900 |
| Project Engineer | Traton R&D US LLC | 33 | $122,221 |
| Performance / Simulation / Application Engineer | Caterpillar Inc. | 31 | $100,298 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | TECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC | 20 | $87,548 |
| Sr. Process Engineer | Rivian Automotive, LLC | 19 | $105,315 |
| Product Engineer | Traton R&D US LLC | 15 | $106,870 |
| Manufacturing Engineer | Cintal, Inc. | 14 | $99,165 |
| Design Lead | HCL AMERICA INC | 12 | $95,202 |
| Senior Designer | HCL AMERICA INC | 9 | $83,803 |
| Sr. Automation Controls Engineer | Rivian Automotive, LLC | 6 | $123,196 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 627 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $106,935.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Caterpillar Inc. | 306 | $106,935 |
| Professional services | Gotion Illinois New Energy Inc. | 175 | $100,000 |
| Technology and software | HCL AMERICA INC | 111 | $87,548 |
| Retail and wholesale | Hengli America Corporation | 19 | $90,730 |
| Education | University of Illinois | 8 | $76,544 |
| Energy and utilities | AES CLEAN ENERGY SERVICES, LLC | 5 | $116,432 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Open Avenues Foundation | 2 | $90,106 |
| Media and entertainment | AO Racing LLC | 1 | $85,000 |
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 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Mechanical
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- 02
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- 03
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- 04
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
- 05
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- 06
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
- 07
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
- 08
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for mechanical engineers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$102,070
Compare Mechanical Engineers pay across nearby states
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Illinois is $102,680.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The Illinois median is -4.6% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $72,150 and the 90th-percentile at $160,160, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mechanical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mechanical 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.