Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cloud Engineer I in Illinois is $82,930 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.
However, a Cloud Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered Talent
Cloud Engineer I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $85,880 | $7,157 | $1,652 | $41 |
| Average | $82,930 | $6,911 | $1,595 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,970 | $6,248 | $1,442 | $36 |
The Rockridge Group - Chicago, IL
Kaav Inc. - Downers Grove, IL
Goldstone Partners Inc - Oak Brook, IL
Contact Government Services, LLC - Chicago, IL
A Cloud Engineer I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Cloud Engineer I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Engineer I | 0-2 years | $82,925 |
| Cloud Computing Analyst II | 2-4 years | $109,402 |
| Cloud Computing Analyst III | 4-7 years | $124,788 |
| Cloud Computing Analyst IV | 7+ years | $150,267 |
| Cloud Computing Analyst V | 7-10 years | $171,359 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Cloud Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Cloud Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $92,678. While startup companies pay approximate $78,396.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $78,396 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $82,912 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $89,492 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $92,678 |
For Cloud Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Cloud Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cloud Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $95,369 | $46.0 | 15% |
| Financial Services | $91,223 | $44.0 | 10% |
| Healthcare | $91,223 | $44.0 | 10% |
| Insurance | $91,223 | $44.0 | 10% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $91,223 | $44.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Cloud Engineer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $85,880 | $7,157 | $1,652 | $41 |
| Average | $82,930 | $6,911 | $1,595 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,970 | $6,248 | $1,442 | $36 |
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Cloud Engineer I, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
| Next Step Role | Estimate Salary | Projected Raise |
|---|---|---|
| Information Systems Architect II | $96,000 | 16% |
| Cloud Computing Analyst II | $109,500 | 32% |
| Business Infrastructure Architect II | $109,190 | 32% |
| IT Infrastructure Operations Supervisor | $107,200 | 29% |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Cloud Engineer I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Canonical
Chicago, IL
Canonical | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. The role of a Telecommunications Field Engineer at Canonical. The telco industry is moving to software-defined services. ... more
3 Days Ago
Impact Networking
Chicago, IL
Impact Networking | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Built on service. Powered by people. Impact exists because a small group of industry leaders believed companies in our sp... more
6 Days Ago
Impact Networking
Bolingbrook, IL
Impact Networking | Bolingbrook, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Built on service. Powered by people. Impact exists because a small group of industry leaders believed companies in our sp... more
6 Days Ago
Jet Support Services, Inc.
Chicago, IL
Jet Support Services, Inc. | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. About JSSI. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Chicago, Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) is the largest independent pr... more
6 Days Ago
Contact Government Services, LLC
Chicago, IL
Contact Government Services, LLC | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Cloud and Storage Engineer. Employment Type: Full-Time, Experienced. Department: Information technology. . CGS is seeking more
7 Days Ago
aqua IT
O'Fallon, IL
aqua IT | O'Fallon, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Overview. We have an opening for an AWS Cloud Engineer to work on a cloud development and deployment team. The team is in... more
7 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
