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 Marine Chief Engineer in Illinois is $129,176 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.
However, a Marine Chief Engineer'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 Onboarding
Marine Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $137,229 | $11,436 | $2,639 | $66 |
| Average | $129,176 | $10,765 | $2,484 | $62 |
| 25th Percentile | $112,434 | $9,369 | $2,162 | $54 |
Alpha Baking Co., Inc. - Chicago, IL
Sheraton Lisle near Naperville - Lisle, IL
Field Museum - Chicago, IL
The Forester by Hyatt - Lake Forest, IL
A Marine Chief Engineer'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 Marine Chief Engineer'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 |
|---|---|
| Digital P... Level Marine Chief Engineer | $88,673 |
| Digital P... Level Marine Chief Engineer | $106,181 |
| Marine Ch... Level Marine Chief Engineer | $132,664 |
| Digital P... Level Marine Chief Engineer | $103,039 |
| Digital P... Level Marine Chief Engineer | $134,153 |
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 Marine Chief Engineers. 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:
For Marine Chief Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 52% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Marine Chief Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Marine Chief Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $161,470 | $78.0 | 25% |
| Insurance | $148,552 | $71.0 | 15% |
| Software & Networking | $148,552 | $71.0 | 15% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $144,677 | $70.0 | 12% |
| Energy & Utilities | $142,093 | $68.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Marine Chief Engineer'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 | $137,229 | $11,436 | $2,639 | $66 |
| Average | $129,176 | $10,765 | $2,484 | $62 |
| 25th Percentile | $112,434 | $9,369 | $2,162 | $54 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Marine Chief Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Gotion
Manteno, IL
Gotion | Manteno, IL
Gotion Inc. is based in Silicon Valley, CA, currently building a Manufacturing facility in Manteno, IL and has R&D centers in Ohio, China, Japan and Europe... more
3 Days Ago
HHDC
Chicago, IL
HHDC | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. SUMMARY. . The Chief Engineer is a union represented maintenance position that assists the Chief Engineer and/or the prop... more
7 Days Ago
Gecko Hospitality
Bloomington, IL
Gecko Hospitality | Bloomington, IL
Hospitality ManagerHospitality ManagerGecko Hospitality is looking for a Hospitality Manager to join our team. This is a full-time position.The Hospitality... more
3 Days Ago
Prime Healthcare
Chicago, IL
Prime Healthcare | Chicago, IL
Assistant Chief Engineer. The Assistant Chief Engineer is responsible for the safe and proper operation of the power plant and associated control structure... more
5 Days Ago
JLL
Addison, TX, IL
JLL | Addison, TX, IL
This job is with JLL, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact ... more
5 Days Ago
Holiday Inn Bloomington-Normal
Normal, IL
Holiday Inn Bloomington-Normal | Normal, IL
Job Description. Job Description. JOB SUMMARY. The Chief Maintenance Engineer is responsible for ensuring the hotel is maintained in full compliance with I... 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:
