What is the average Civil Engineer salary in Chicago, IL?
Civil Engineers in Chicago earn a median of $101,600 per year — about 6% above the national average. Pay ranges from $73,200 (25th percentile) to $157,500 (90th percentile).
Civil Engineer salary by experience level
How Chicago pay compares
Cost-of-living adjusted is the Chicago salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.
5-year salary trend
Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 5.1%.
Civil Engineer job market in Chicago
Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a growing tech scene. Salaries are competitive without the coastal cost of living.
An estimated 9,400 civil engineers work in the Chicago metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:
- Design infrastructure
- Review construction plans
- Conduct site inspections
- Calculate load and stress
- Prepare cost estimates
Related job salaries in Chicago
Civil Engineer salary in other cities
FAQ
How much does a Civil Engineer make in Chicago, IL?+
Civil Engineers in Chicago earn a median of $101,600 per year — about 6% above the national average of $95,890.
What's the entry-level Civil Engineer salary in Chicago?+
Entry-level Civil Engineers in Chicago typically earn around $66,000 per year. Salaries scale to about $147,300 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.
Is $101,600 a good Civil Engineer salary in Chicago?+
$101,600 is the median, meaning half of Civil Engineers in Chicago earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 107, that's roughly $95,000 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.
How fast is Civil Engineer pay growing in Chicago?+
Civil Engineer salaries in Chicago grew about 5.1% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +5%.
Where do Civil Engineers in Chicago get paid the most?+
The 90th percentile Civil Engineer salary in Chicago is around $157,500. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.
Are you being paid fairly in Chicago?
Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Chicago median.
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