AI Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (May 2026)
AI Engineer opportunities in Chicago, Illinois — mid-level pay $228,000, top employers Boeing, United Airlines, Abbott Laboratories, and live postings aggregated from 50+ boards. Chicago is a major economic hub in the Midwest with deep roots in finance, manufacturing, and logistics, plus a fast-growing technology sector. The ci...
By Workzil Editorial · Career Research Team
Updated May 23, 2026
Salary ranges cost-of-living-adjusted to Chicago (index: high). Live postings refresh hourly from Workzil's aggregated job feed.
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AI Engineer salary in Chicago
Junior · 0-2 yrs
$132,000 – $180,000
Cost-of-living adjusted
Mid-Level · 3-5 yrs
$192,000 – $264,000
Cost-of-living adjusted
Senior · 6-12 yrs
$276,000 – $456,000
Cost-of-living adjusted
Base salaries shown. Total compensation including equity and bonus typically 15-50% higher at major tech employers.
Top Chicago employers hiring ai engineers
BoeingUnited AirlinesAbbott LaboratoriesSalesforceMcDonald's Corporation
Top industries in Chicago: Finance & Trading, Technology, Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics.
Chicago job market context
Chicago is a major economic hub in the Midwest with deep roots in finance, manufacturing, and logistics, plus a fast-growing technology sector. The city is home to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, a robust startup scene, and several Fortune 500 headquarters. Professionals benefit from high salaries that go further than coastal cities due to a comparatively moderate cost of living.
- Population: 2.7M
- Cost of living: high
- Average salary: $125,000
- State: Illinois