Typical local-market pay: $78,000/year (Verified BLS OES May 2024 · Doximity 2025 · NALP 2025 · Levels.fyi). Lifestyle equivalent of a New York $78,000 salary: $57,096/year (COLI-scaled, not market pay). COLI rank #20 of 113.
COLI-scaled lifestyle-equivalent range for a mechanical 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 42,975 | CHF 77,355 | 65% |
| Geneva | CHF 42,975 | CHF 74,954 | 61% |
| New York | $78,000 | $78,000 | 66% |
| San Francisco | $78,000 | $76,128 | 67% |
| Singapore | S$55,886 | S$89,113 | 77% |
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Try Wise for Free →Local-market pay for a mechanical engineer in Chicago is approximately $78,000/year (Verified · BLS OES May 2024 · Doximity 2025 · NALP 2025 · Levels.fyi). Separately, the lifestyle equivalent of a New York $78,000 salary is $57,096 (COLI 73.2, NYC = 100). That equivalent is not what someone earns locally. COLI-scaled entry/senior lifestyle equivalents: $29,280 – $102,480.
After income tax and social contributions in United States, a mechanical engineer in Chicago takes home approximately 72% of their gross salary, or around $4,660/month ($55,926/year in USD equivalent).
Chicago ranks #20 out of 113 cities on COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalent for mechanical engineers (not local market rank). The top city on that equivalent scale is Zurich.