Job Salary Guide · 2026
Data Engineer Salary After Tax in Chicago
Based on BLS OEWS data · IL · Single filer
Data Engineer Salary Range
25th Percentile
$95,000
Take-home:
$70,515
$5,876/mo
Entry to mid-level
Median
$120,000
Take-home:
$86,833
$7,236/mo
Typical salary
75th Percentile
$155,000
Take-home:
$109,022
$9,085/mo
Senior / specialist
Tax Breakdown
At median salary of $120,000
Cost of Living in Chicago
1BR Monthly Rent
$2,000/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
$2,600/mo
COL Index
1.38
Comfortable Rent Max
$1,809/mo
50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner
Based on your monthly take-home of $7,236 ($86,832/yr)
$3,618
per month
- ›Rent / mortgage
- ›Groceries
- ›Utilities
- ›Insurance
- ›Minimum debt payments
- ›Transportation
$2,171
per month
- ›Dining out
- ›Streaming services
- ›Gym
- ›Hobbies
- ›Travel
- ›Shopping
$1,447
per month
- ›Emergency fund
- ›401(k) / IRA
- ›Investments
- ›Down payment fund
- ›Debt payoff (extra)
Needs / year
$43,416
Wants / year
$26,050
Savings / year
$17,366
Data Engineer Salary in Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Data Engineer salary in Chicago?
The median Data Engineer salary in Chicago (IL) is $120,000 per year based on BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $95,000 and the 75th percentile is $155,000.
What is the take-home pay for a Data Engineer in Chicago?
At the median salary of $120,000, a Data Engineer in IL takes home approximately $86,833 per year ($7,236/month) after federal and state taxes. The effective tax rate is 27.64%.
Can a Data Engineer afford rent in Chicago?
The average 1-bedroom rent in Chicago is $2,000/month. On the median Data Engineer salary, your rent-to-income ratio is 27.6%, which is "Moderate". Financial experts recommend keeping rent below 25–30% of take-home pay ($1,809/month at this salary).
How does cost of living affect Data Engineer salaries in Chicago?
Chicago has a cost-of-living index of 1.38 (1.00 = national average). Chicago is 38% more expensive than the US average, which reduces the real purchasing power of the Data Engineer salary.