What is the average Structural Engineer salary for Chicago, IL?
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As of March 01, 2026, the average Structural Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $152,947. The chart below represents localized salaries for some of our most popular Structural Engineer job titles in Chicago, IL. Salaries can vary greatly depending on numerous factors, including position, location, years of experience, and level of education. Salary.com’s team of Certified Compensation Professionals analyzed survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at companies of all sizes and industries to compile a range of salaries for various Structural Engineer job titles in Chicago, IL. Apply your personal criteria to one of the job titles below to get your personalized salary estimate.
Structural Engineer Salaries in Chicago, IL
| Job Title | Salary | Hourly Rate | Location | Date Updated |
| Structural Engineer I | $79,360 | $38.15 | Chicago, IL | March 01, 2026 |
| Structural Engineer II | $103,150 | $49.59 | Chicago, IL | March 01, 2026 |
| Structural Engineer III | $128,848 | $61.95 | Chicago, IL | March 01, 2026 |
| Structural Engineer IV | $154,842 | $74.44 | Chicago, IL | March 01, 2026 |
| Civil Engineer IV | $146,205 | $70.29 | Chicago, IL | March 01, 2026 |
| Civil Engineer VI | $216,117 | $103.90 | Chicago, IL | March 01, 2026 |
| Civil Engineer V | $177,184 | $85.18 | Chicago, IL | March 01, 2026 |
| Civil Engineer II | $103,570 | $49.79 | Chicago, IL | March 01, 2026 |
| Civil Engineer III | $124,773 | $59.99 | Chicago, IL | March 01, 2026 |
| Civil Engineer I | $85,926 | $41.31 | Chicago, IL | March 01, 2026 |
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Designs and analyzes structures like buildings, bridges, and dams to ensure they are safe, stable, and strong enough to withstand various loads and environmental conditions. Ensures structures meet building codes and regulations. Determines the cause of structural failures, damages, and defects through site investigations. Recommends solutions for structural issues and/or design modifications. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Structural Engineer I Salaries in Chicago, ILAlternate Job Titles:Entry Level Structural Engineer, Entry Structural Engineer, Structural Design Assessment Engineer I, Structural Design Engineer I, Structural Engineer I - Roads and Bridges, Structural Engineer I
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Designs and analyzes structures like buildings, bridges, and dams to ensure they are safe, stable, and strong enough to withstand various loads and environmental conditions. Ensures structures meet building codes and regulations. Determines the cause of structural failures, damages, and defects through site investigations. Recommends solutions for structural issues and/or design modifications. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience. Structural Engineer II Salaries in Chicago, ILAlternate Job Titles:Engineer, Experienced - Structural Engineering, Intermediate Structural Engineer, Structural Design Assessment Engineer II, Structural Design Engineer II, Structural Engineer II - Roads and Bridges, Structural Engineer II
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Designs and analyzes structures like buildings, bridges, and dams to ensure they are safe, stable, and strong enough to withstand various loads and environmental conditions. Ensures structures meet building codes and regulations. Determines the cause of structural failures, damages, and defects through site investigations. Recommends solutions for structural issues and/or design modifications. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience. Structural Engineer III Salaries in Chicago, ILAlternate Job Titles:Senior Structural Engineer, Structural Design Assessment Engineer III, Structural Design Engineer III, Structural Engineer III - Roads and Bridges, Structural Engineer III
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Designs and analyzes structures like buildings, bridges, and dams to ensure they are safe, stable, and strong enough to withstand various loads and environmental conditions. Ensures structures meet building codes and regulations. Determines the cause of structural failures, damages, and defects through site investigations. Recommends solutions for structural issues and/or design modifications. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience. Structural Engineer IV Salaries in Chicago, ILAlternate Job Titles:Specialist Structural Engineer, Structural Design Assessment Engineer IV, Structural Design Engineer IV, Structural Engineer IV - Roads and Bridges, Structural Engineer IV
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Plans, designs, and supervises the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects such as airports, bridges, channels, dams, railroads, or roads. Analyzes the design effectiveness and structural reliability of major projects including assessing and testing materials. Performs the necessary data collection and calculations in areas such as traffic forecasting, soil capacity, groundwater analysis, and structure design. Estimates costs including personnel and material needs, prepares proposals, and establishes completion dates. May also assist in inspecting aging infrastructure or overseeing improvement projects. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Requires Professional Engineer License (PE). Typically reports to a manager. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience. Civil Engineer IV Salaries in Chicago, ILAlternate Job Titles:Civil Infrastructure Engineer IV, Civil/Construction/Structural Engineer IV, Civil Engineer IV
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Plans, designs, and supervises the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects such as airports, bridges, channels, dams, railroads, or roads. Analyzes the design effectiveness and structural reliability of major projects including assessing and testing materials. Performs the necessary data collection and calculations in areas such as traffic forecasting, soil capacity, groundwater analysis, and structure design. Estimates costs including personnel and material needs, prepares proposals, and establishes completion dates. Leads inspections of aging or compromised structures. May oversee improvement projects. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Requires Professional Engineer License (PE). Typically reports to a manager. Typically requires 12+ years of related experience. Achievement and depth of knowledge of specialization or field is the main differentiator. Advisory role on complex and challenging projects and initiatives. Recognized for deep technical and industry knowledge and innovative thinking. Provides thought leadership and guidance to a functional area and the organization. Civil Engineer VI Salaries in Chicago, ILAlternate Job Titles:Civil Infrastructure Engineer VI, Civil/Construction/Structural Engineer VI, Civil Engineer VI
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Plans, designs, and supervises the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects such as airports, bridges, channels, dams, railroads, or roads. Analyzes the design effectiveness and structural reliability of major projects including assessing and testing materials. Performs the necessary data collection and calculations in areas such as traffic forecasting, soil capacity, groundwater analysis, and structure design. Estimates costs including personnel and material needs, prepares proposals, and establishes completion dates. May also assist in inspecting aging infrastructure or overseeing improvement projects. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Requires Professional Engineer License (PE). Typically reports to a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience. Civil Engineer V Salaries in Chicago, ILAlternate Job Titles:Civil Infrastructure Engineer V, Civil/Construction/Structural Engineer V, Civil Engineer V
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Plans, designs, and supervises the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects such as airports, bridges, channels, dams, railroads, or roads. Analyzes the design effectiveness and structural reliability of major projects including assessing and testing materials. Performs the necessary data collection and calculations in areas such as traffic forecasting, soil capacity, groundwater analysis, and structure design. Estimates costs including personnel and material needs, prepares proposals, and establishes completion dates. May also assist in inspecting aging infrastructure or overseeing improvement projects. May participate in an engineering or professional development program. May be working towards obtaining a Professional Engineer License (PE). Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience. Civil Engineer II Salaries in Chicago, ILAlternate Job Titles:Civil Infrastructure Engineer II, Civil/Construction/Structural Engineer II, Intermediate Civil Engineer, Civil Engineer II
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Plans, designs, and supervises the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects such as airports, bridges, channels, dams, railroads, or roads. Analyzes the design effectiveness and structural reliability of major projects including assessing and testing materials. Performs the necessary data collection and calculations in areas such as traffic forecasting, soil capacity, groundwater analysis, and structure design. Estimates costs including personnel and material needs, prepares proposals, and establishes completion dates. May also assist in inspecting aging infrastructure or overseeing improvement projects. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. May require Professional Engineer License (PE). Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience. Civil Engineer III Salaries in Chicago, ILAlternate Job Titles:Civil Infrastructure Engineer III, Civil/Construction/Structural Engineer III, Senior Civil Engineer, Civil Engineer III
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Plans, designs, and supervises the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects such as airports, bridges, channels, dams, railroads, or roads. Analyzes the design effectiveness and structural reliability of major projects including assessing and testing materials. Performs the necessary data collection and calculations in areas such as traffic forecasting, soil capacity, groundwater analysis, and structure design. Estimates costs including personnel and material needs, prepares proposals, and establishes completion dates. May also assist in inspecting aging infrastructure or overseeing improvement projects. May participate in an engineering or professional development program. May be working towards obtaining a Professional Engineer License (PE). Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Civil Engineer I Salaries in Chicago, ILAlternate Job Titles:Civil Infrastructure Engineer I, Civil/Construction/Structural Engineer I, Entry Civil Engineer, Entry Level Civil Engineer, Civil Engineer I