Electrical Engineer Salary in Illinois: $115,083 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Illinois's 64 metropolitan areas, the average median electrical engineer pay sits at $115,083/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 17-2071. Because Illinois sits at BEA RPP 97.1 (3% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $118,520 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Naperville ($114,705), Chicago ($113,520), Elgin ($112,507).
In 2026, electrical engineers in Illinois can expect an average median salary of $115,084, which is about 8.0% lower than the national median of $125,033. The highest paying city for electrical engineers in the state is Naperville, at $118,892, while Urbana offers the lowest salary at $98,925. This salary gap of $19,967 can be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, demand for skilled engineers, and the concentration of industries in different areas. Illinois has specific licensing requirements for engineers, including passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and obtaining a Professional Engineer license for those who wish to advance their careers. Factors driving demand for electrical engineers in the state include growth in technology sectors and infrastructure projects. With a projected annual growth rate of 3.65%, the job market for electrical engineers in Illinois is expected to remain stable, with a total employment of 5,511 engineers across the state. Other top cities for electrical engineer salaries include Chicago at $117,663, Elgin at $116,614, Rockford at $116,451, and Moline at $112,702. The varied salaries reflect local economic conditions, industry presence, and urban development in different areas of Illinois.
Illinois Electrical Engineer Salary Range
Overall salary range in Illinois: $62,146 (lowest entry-level) to $184,282 (highest top earner)
Illinois vs National Average
Illinois electrical engineers earn 7.96% less than the national median ($-9,950/year difference).
Illinois Electrical Engineer Salary Distribution (2026)
Electrical Engineer salaries in Illinois range from $77,711 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $168,577 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $115,083. The Illinois median is $9,950 below the US national median of $125,033. The average hourly rate is $55.33/hr. Approximately 5,511 electrical engineers are employed across 64 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$95,315
2025 BLS Actual
$111,031
2026 Current Est.
$115,083
2019–2027 Growth
+25.1%
Salary Trajectory for Electrical Engineers in Illinois (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.65% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $95,315 | Actual |
| 2020 | $95,085 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,385 | Actual |
| 2022 | $98,261 | Actual |
| 2023 | $104,907 | Actual |
| 2024 | $107,243 | Actual |
| 2025 | $111,031 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $115,083 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $119,284 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Illinois metropolitan area, the median electrical engineer salary grew 16.5% from $95,315 (2019) to $111,031 (2025). At a 3.65% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $119,284 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,969 (25.15%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Illinois metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.65% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Illinois
Lowest Paying Cities in Illinois
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Urbana | $98,925 |
| Carbondale | $98,967 |
| Champaign | $99,286 |
| Elmhurst | $99,953 |
| Calumet City | $100,199 |
Best Value Cities for Electrical Engineers in Illinois
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Illinois cities offer the most purchasing power for electrical engineers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $116,451 | 92.154 | $126,366 |
| Naperville | $118,892 | 97.1 | $122,443 |
| Decatur | $106,791 | 88.422 | $120,774 |
| Elgin | $116,614 | 97.1 | $120,097 |
| Moline | $112,702 | 97.1 | $116,068 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Illinois
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $77,711 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $115,083 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $168,577 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Illinois metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 64 Cities in Illinois
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naperville | $118,892 |
| 2 | Chicago | $117,663 |
| 3 | Elgin | $116,614 |
| 4 | Rockford | $116,451 |
| 5 | Moline | $112,702 |
| 6 | Rock Island | $110,956 |
| 7 | Orland Park | $107,136 |
| 8 | Decatur | $106,791 |
| 9 | Bolingbrook | $106,676 |
| 10 | Palatine | $105,872 |
| 11 | Waukegan | $105,813 |
| 12 | Springfield | $105,661 |
| 13 | Mount Prospect | $105,612 |
| 14 | Hoffman Estates | $105,269 |
| 15 | Peoria | $105,205 |
| 16 | Evanston | $105,069 |
| 17 | Joliet | $104,980 |
| 18 | Oak Park | $104,893 |
| 19 | Danville | $104,676 |
| 20 | Addison | $104,454 |
| 21 | Berwyn | $104,408 |
| 22 | Aurora | $104,339 |
| 23 | Tinley Park | $104,324 |
| 24 | Northbrook | $104,217 |
| 25 | St. Charles | $104,152 |
| 26 | Gurnee | $104,127 |
| 27 | Arlington Heights | $103,981 |
| 28 | Wheaton | $103,847 |
| 29 | Woodridge | $103,815 |
| 30 | Schaumburg | $103,763 |
| 31 | Buffalo Grove | $103,733 |
| 32 | Bartlett | $103,725 |
| 33 | Lake in the Hills | $103,340 |
| 34 | Collinsville | $103,324 |
| 35 | Skokie | $103,294 |
| 36 | Wheeling | $103,143 |
| 37 | Carpentersville | $103,028 |
| 38 | Oak Lawn | $102,960 |
| 39 | O'Fallon | $102,938 |
| 40 | Quincy | $102,536 |
| 41 | Algonquin | $102,536 |
| 42 | Bloomington | $102,531 |
| 43 | Carol Stream | $102,446 |
| 44 | Normal | $102,441 |
| 45 | Lombard | $102,380 |
| 46 | Cicero | $102,274 |
| 47 | Plainfield | $102,167 |
| 48 | Des Plaines | $102,148 |
| 49 | Oswego | $101,757 |
| 50 | DeKalb | $101,675 |
| 51 | Park Ridge | $101,594 |
| 52 | Hanover Park | $101,552 |
| 53 | Glenview | $101,544 |
| 54 | Romeoville | $101,134 |
| 55 | Streamwood | $100,994 |
| 56 | Downers Grove | $100,806 |
| 57 | Belleville | $100,781 |
| 58 | Crystal Lake | $100,617 |
| 59 | Galesburg | $100,232 |
| 60 | Calumet City | $100,199 |
| 61 | Elmhurst | $99,953 |
| 62 | Champaign | $99,286 |
| 63 | Carbondale | $98,967 |
| 64 | Urbana | $98,925 |
More Illinois Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced electrical engineers.
Compare Cities in Illinois
View all comparisons →Explore More Electrical Engineer Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electrical engineers make in Illinois in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for electrical engineers in Illinois?
How does Illinois electrical engineer pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level electrical engineer salary in Illinois?
How many electrical engineers are employed in Illinois?
Which Illinois city offers the best value for electrical engineers?
Written by Amina Patel, MEng, PE
Career Analyst
Amina has over 10 years of experience in power systems engineering. She works at a utility company specializing in renewable energy integration.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.65% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 electrical engineer compensation across Illinois. State averages are employment-weighted across 64 metro areas — larger metro areas with more electrical engineerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.65%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for electrical engineers (SOC 17-2071).
Compiled and verified by Amina Patel, MEng, PE, a licensed electrical engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov