Mechanical Engineer market brief · Chicago, IL
Entry-level Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL
There are 21 open entry-level mechanical engineer jobs in Chicago, IL as of Nov 15, 2026; median listed pay $74,732 a year; 2 posted in the last 7 days. 16 employers are hiring, led by Sargent & Lundy, RTM Engineering Consultants, LLC, and AEI. Openings are down 25% from 28 in the prior 30 days. The middle half of posted salaries runs $67,149–$86,379 a year, from the 81% of listings that disclose pay.
Data updated Nov 15, 2026
Role and market snapshot
A quick read on demand before you open the live listings
Tracked jobs
- 21
- Live mechanical engineer openings currently tracked in the Chicago market.
Companies hiring
- 16
- Distinct employers represented in this publishable market view.
30-day momentum
- Down 25%
- 28 openings were tracked in the prior comparison window.
Median compensation
- $74,732
- 81% of listings provide usable compensation data.
Market analysis
Role-specific demand, level, employer, and compensation signals for this local market
Start with the level mix, then compare current demand, compensation coverage, and employer concentration before opening the live listings.
Level mix
Career ladder
Chicago's mechanical engineer market is led by entry-level openings, with 21 tracked roles at that rung.
30-day window
Demand and salary
Current jobs
21
Prior window
28
Salary coverage
81%
Median experience
3.0 years
Coverage-gated
Salary distribution
P25
$67,149
P50
$74,732
P75
$86,379
P90
$99,860
Salary figures use annualized USD posted minimum compensation from listings in this market. An employer that posts the same pay on many listings counts once, and figures render only when enough distinct employers disclose pay.
Use Metaintro
Turn this market signal into momentum
Move from aggregate demand to the live roles hiring in this market now.
- Open live entry-level mechanical engineer listings in Chicago
- Compare the level mix before narrowing your search
- Use employer and compensation signals to prioritize outreach
Turn this market brief into a live search.
Use the signal
The best next step is opening the roles behind the aggregate: compare mechanical engineer opportunities in Chicago, save the strongest fits, and keep the market signal close while you apply.
- 21 live roles tracked in this market.
- 16 employers represented in the current window.
- Market data refreshed Nov 15, 2026.
A practical market plan for Mechanical Engineer in Chicago
Use this sequence to move from aggregate labor-market data to a focused application list.
- 01
Read the demand
21 mechanical engineer openings across 16 employers establish the current Chicago opportunity set.
- 02
Choose the right rung
Entry-level leads the derived level mix with 21 tracked openings.
- 03
Prioritize employers
Sargent & Lundy is one of the most active visible employers, with 5 current openings in this market view.
- 04
Open the live roles
8 representative openings connect this brief to jobs you can review now.
With Metaintro
Keep market research, live opportunities, saved roles, and the evidence behind your applications moving in one focused loop.
Where this market is hiring
Move from the Chicago market view into active employers and representative mechanical engineer openings
Employer activity · 16 companies
Who is hiring in this market
The most active visible employers, ordered by openings represented in the current market sample.
Live opportunity sample · 8 of 21 matches
Representative openings
Open a role to inspect the full requirements. Compensation appears only when the listing provides usable salary data.
Entry-level Mechanical Engineer jobs in Chicago: what applicants need to know
Current answers for a difficult AI-era job search, grounded in this publishable role and location market view rather than generic career advice.
- 01
How many entry-level mechanical engineer jobs are open in Chicago?
Metaintro tracks 21 live entry-level mechanical engineer openings from 16 employers in the Chicago, IL area over the last 30 days.
- 02
Is demand for entry-level mechanical engineer jobs changing in Chicago?
Openings fell 25%, from 28 in the prior 30 days to 21 in the latest 30.
- 03
What do entry-level mechanical engineer jobs in Chicago pay?
The median posted salary is $74,732 a year. The middle half of posted salaries runs $67,149 to $86,379. Based on the 81% of current listings that disclose pay.
- 04
Which companies are hiring for entry-level mechanical engineer jobs in Chicago?
Sargent & Lundy, RTM Engineering Consultants, LLC, AEI, and AMETEK have the most open entry-level mechanical engineer roles here right now, out of 16 hiring employers.
Continue with the next market signal
Compare nearby cities, adjacent roles, and publishable level views without leaving the live jobs cluster
Nearby cities
Compare Mechanical Engineer demand around Chicago.
Related roles
See adjacent role demand in the Chicago market.
Level views
Narrow the market to experience levels with enough reliable data.
Labor market data
Layoffs, WARN notices and hiring demand beside the Chicago market
- Layoffs trackerEvery tracked layoff, store closure and office mandate, by company.
- Monthly layoffs reportsEach month's cuts, the companies behind them and the trend.
- 2026 layoffs year in reviewThe year's cuts by month, company, cause and state.
- WARN notices by stateEvery state's official layoff and plant closing notice list.
- Hiring Demand MonitorDaily open jobs at 280,000 employers, from their own career sites.
- Second chance jobs by stateEmployers with public evidence they hire people with records, graded A to D.
- Job markets by role and cityLive openings, employers and pay for each local market.
- US hiring reportDated counts of job listings and hiring companies by role and city.
Built for career movement
Turn the Chicago mechanical engineer market into your next move.
Use live demand, employer, level, and compensation signals to focus your mechanical engineer search where the market is active now.
- MatchCompare live roles against your current evidence.
- PositionTurn proof projects into role-specific applications.
- ImproveUse market feedback to keep the skill plan current.