Civil Engineer Salary: Chicago, IL vs Seattle, WA
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Civil Engineers in Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Seattle, WA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $100,160 | $116,480▲ | -$16,320 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,020 | $100,290▲ | -$20,270 |
| 75th Percentile | $126,570 | $134,500▲ | -$7,930 |
| 90th Percentile | $159,940 | $161,760▲ | -$1,820 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 103.6 | 111.1 | -7.5 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $96,684 | $104,811▲ | -$8,127 |
| Total Employment | 9,760 | 7,680 | +2,080 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Seattle, WA pays $16,320 more (median: $100,160 vs $116,480). BEA's regional price parity is 103.6 in Chicago, IL and 111.1 in Seattle, WA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $96,684 and $104,811, so Seattle, WA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $16,320 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $96,684 for Chicago and $104,811 for Seattle, a difference of $8,127.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 9,760 Civil Engineer jobs in the Chicago area and 7,680 in the Seattle area. For broader context, see our Illinois overview and the full Civil Engineer city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Civil Engineer salary higher in Chicago, IL or Seattle, WA?
Seattle, WA has the higher median wage for Civil Engineers ($116,480 per year, against $100,160 in Chicago, IL; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $96,684 in Chicago, IL and $104,811 in Seattle, WA.
How do prices compare between Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 103.6 for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area and 111.1 for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 3.6% above the national level for Chicago, IL and 11.1% above the national level for Seattle, WA.
Which city pays Civil Engineers more once local prices are counted?
Seattle, WA: at national-average prices its median Civil Engineer wage is $104,811, against $96,684 for Chicago, IL. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.