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 August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Engineer I - Sterilization in Illinois is $65,210 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.
However, a Quality Engineer I - Sterilization'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
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered HR
Quality Engineer I - Sterilization Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $67,630 | $5,636 | $1,301 | $33 |
| Average | $65,210 | $5,434 | $1,254 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $64,070 | $5,339 | $1,232 | $31 |
Custom Cylinders, Inc - Cary, IL
LHH - Bloomingdale, IL
Sigan America LLC - Ottawa, IL
Venteon - Normal, IL
A Quality Engineer I - Sterilization'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 Quality Engineer I - Sterilization'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Quality Engineer I - Sterilization | $65,129 |
| Intermediate Level Quality Engineer I - Sterilization | $65,287 |
| Senior Level Quality Engineer I - Sterilization | $65,828 |
| Specialist Level Quality Engineer I - Sterilization | $65,936 |
| Expert Level Quality Engineer I - Sterilization | $66,008 |
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 Quality Engineer I - Sterilizations. 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:
Quality Engineer I - Sterilization salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $72,999. While startup companies pay approximate $61,755.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $61,755 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $65,314 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $70,493 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $72,999 |
For Quality Engineer I - Sterilization roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Retail & Wholesale and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Quality Engineer I - Sterilization positions in Software & Networking or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Quality Engineer I - Sterilization as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail & Wholesale | $97,815 | $47.0 | 50% |
| Construction | $91,294 | $44.0 | 40% |
| Insurance | $88,034 | $42.0 | 35% |
| Business Services | $84,773 | $41.0 | 30% |
| Healthcare | $81,512 | $39.0 | 25% |
Understanding how a Quality Engineer I - Sterilization'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 | $67,630 | $5,636 | $1,301 | $33 |
| Average | $65,210 | $5,434 | $1,254 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $64,070 | $5,339 | $1,232 | $31 |
For a Quality Engineer I - Sterilization, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Quality Assurance Analyst II - Sterilization role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $95,400 - a projected growth of 46% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Quality Engineer I - Sterilization job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
CIC North America
Rolling Meadows, IL
CIC North America | Rolling Meadows, IL
Job Description. Job Description. We are seeking a Quality Control Engineer to join our team. You will be responsible for the design and development of int... more
5 Days Ago
TekPro
Elk Grove Village, IL
TekPro | Elk Grove Village, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Quality Engineer. Location. Elk Grove Village, IL. Industry. Aerospace / Precision Manufacturing. Employment Type. Full-T... more
8 Days Ago
Labor Solutions, LLC
Mount Prospect, IL
Labor Solutions, LLC | Mount Prospect, IL
Job Description. Job Description. W. e are expanding our staff, and currently have a. Quality Assurance Engineer. position available. This position is base... more
8 Days Ago
Honeywell International Inc.
Hazel Crest, IL
Honeywell International Inc. | Hazel Crest, IL
OverviewSr Supplier Quality Engineer - Aerospace Manufacturing / REMOTE / Midwest Region (Finance)Location :Remote-based with regular travel to supplier si... more
9 Days Ago
Aspen Guard LLC
Chicago, IL
Aspen Guard LLC | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Company Overview. Folding Guard is a reputable leader in manufacturing security and safety products. With a strong commit... more
5 Days Ago
Zobility
Rockford, IL
Zobility | Rockford, IL
Job Description. Job Description. We need good Freelance Quality Inspector or even a good Quality engineer (either junior or retired) who is oriented towar... more
9 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:
