Mechanical Engineer Salary: Chicago, IL vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Mechanical Engineers in Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $102,070 | $161,370▲ | -$59,300 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,140 | $128,330▲ | -$45,190 |
| 75th Percentile | $130,310 | $183,990▲ | -$53,680 |
| 90th Percentile | $157,720 | $212,380▲ | -$54,660 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 103.6 | 115.6 | -12.0 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $98,528 | $139,578▲ | -$41,050 |
| Total Employment | 6,900 | 5,150 | +1,750 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $59,300 more (median: $102,070 vs $161,370). BEA's regional price parity is 103.6 in Chicago, IL and 115.6 in San Francisco, CA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $98,528 and $139,578, so San Francisco, CA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $59,300 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: $98,528 for Chicago and $139,578 for San Francisco, a difference of $41,050.
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; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 6,900 Mechanical Engineer jobs in the Chicago area and 5,150 in the San Francisco area. For broader context, see our Illinois overview and the full Mechanical Engineer city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mechanical Engineer salary higher in Chicago, IL or San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA has the higher median wage for Mechanical Engineers ($161,370 per year, against $102,070 in Chicago, IL; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $98,528 in Chicago, IL and $139,578 in San Francisco, CA.
How do prices compare between Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA?
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 115.6 for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 3.6% above the national level for Chicago, IL and 15.6% above the national level for San Francisco, CA.
Which city pays Mechanical Engineers more once local prices are counted?
San Francisco, CA: at national-average prices its median Mechanical Engineer wage is $139,578, against $98,528 for Chicago, IL. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.