Typical local-market pay: $80,000/year (Verified BLS OES May 2024 · Doximity 2025 · NALP 2025 · Levels.fyi). Lifestyle equivalent of a New York $80,000 salary: $58,560/year (COLI-scaled, not market pay). COLI rank #20 of 113.
COLI-scaled lifestyle-equivalent range for a electrical engineer in Chicago (NYC baseline × COLI 73.2 / 100). This is not local market pay.
Highest COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalents (not local market pay):
| City | Local market | Lifestyle equivalent | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | CHF 44,077 | CHF 79,339 | 65% |
| Geneva | CHF 44,077 | CHF 76,876 | 61% |
| New York | $80,000 | $80,000 | 66% |
| San Francisco | $80,000 | $78,080 | 67% |
| Singapore | S$57,319 | S$91,398 | 77% |
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Try Wise for Free →Local-market pay for a electrical engineer in Chicago is approximately $80,000/year (Verified · BLS OES May 2024 · Doximity 2025 · NALP 2025 · Levels.fyi). Separately, the lifestyle equivalent of a New York $80,000 salary is $58,560 (COLI 73.2, NYC = 100). That equivalent is not what someone earns locally. COLI-scaled entry/senior lifestyle equivalents: $30,744 – $106,140.
After income tax and social contributions in United States, a electrical engineer in Chicago takes home approximately 72% of their gross salary, or around $4,773/month ($57,280/year in USD equivalent).
Chicago ranks #20 out of 113 cities on COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalent for electrical engineers (not local market rank). The top city on that equivalent scale is Zurich.