Illinois Median
$107,860
per year
Hourly Rate
$51.86
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-11% vs US median
US median $120,630
State Rank
#28 of 49
5,460 employed here
How much does an Electrical Engineer make in Illinois?
Electrical Engineers in Illinois take home a median of $107,860 annually — roughly $51.86 an hour — which runs 11% below the national median of $120,630.
Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $75,470 while the top 10% make $164,290 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $87,360 and $131,960 a year.
Electrical Engineer salary range in Illinois
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,470 | $36.28 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $87,360 | $42.00 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $107,860 | $51.86 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $131,960 | $63.44 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,290 | $78.99 |
|
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks 28th out of 49 states and territories for Electrical Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Electrical Engineer salary in other states
New Mexico $158,520California $144,040District of Columbia $143,000New Hampshire $135,710Washington $132,710Texas $129,450Idaho $129,340Massachusetts $127,720Delaware $126,970Alaska $125,970Alabama $125,630New Jersey $125,370Oregon $125,160Maryland $125,150Louisiana $123,710Colorado $120,760Virginia $119,030New York $119,010Missouri $118,670Maine $114,620West Virginia $113,420Wyoming $111,740Vermont $111,310Pennsylvania $110,820North Dakota $110,810North Carolina $110,130Minnesota $109,510Oklahoma $107,760Nevada $107,400Nebraska $107,260Hawaii $106,350Michigan $106,070Iowa $105,820Utah $105,720Mississippi $104,990Florida $104,780Tennessee $104,450Connecticut $104,160Indiana $102,670Kansas $102,630Ohio $100,620Arizona $100,550Wisconsin $99,700South Dakota $98,980Kentucky $98,550South Carolina $98,440Arkansas $96,860Montana $87,360
Working as an Electrical Engineer in Illinois
Nationally, about 199,000 people work as Electrical Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Illinois pay ($107,860) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Electrical Engineer make in Illinois?
The median Electrical Engineer salary in Illinois is $107,860 per year, or about $51.86 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $75,470 at the entry level to $164,290 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Electrical Engineers about 11% less than the national median of $120,630. Illinois ranks 28th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Electrical Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $107,860 a year. About 5,460 Electrical Engineers are employed in Illinois. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Electrical Engineer salary report
Related salaries
$161,740
median pay · 77,000 employed
$104,110
median pay · 297,000 employed
$133,970
median pay · 15,000 employed
$115,160
median pay · 21,000 employed
$78,350
median pay · 60,000 employed
$112,860
median pay · 23,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.