What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Chicago?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $100,160.

How does Chicago pay compare to the US median for Civil Engineers?

Local median pay is 0.7% below the national OEWS median of $100,840.

How does cost of living change what that wage buys?

BEA RPP for Chicago is 103.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $100,160 has about the same purchasing power as $96,680 at US-average prices.

How current is this data?

Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

Civil Engineers, Chicago

$100,160

BLS OEWS median annual wage in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Middle half of wages roughly $80,020 to $126,570.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median: −0.7%
US median: $100,840
Metro RPP: 103.6
Middle half: $80,020 to $126,570
OEWS employment: 9,760
SOC: 17-2051

Civil Engineers in Chicago pay a median $100,160 (May 2025), 0.7% below the US median of $100,840. At local prices (RPP 103.6), that median buys about what $96,680 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$100,160 in Chicago buys about what $96,680 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 103.6, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 112 vs all-items 103.6 (US = 100, 2024).

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Civil Engineers in nearby metros

Metro	Median	Middle half	RPP
Chicago	$100,160	$80,020 to $126,570	103.6
Phoenix	$90,330	$77,750 to $108,510	103.3
San Francisco	$130,160	$103,030 to $163,150	115.6
Tulsa	$102,080	$81,080 to $129,240	89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Chicago?: According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $100,160.
How does Chicago pay compare to the US median for Civil Engineers?: Local median pay is 0.7% below the national OEWS median of $100,840.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?: BEA RPP for Chicago is 103.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $100,160 has about the same purchasing power as $96,680 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?: Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

Federal, state, or local income taxes
Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.