Leadership Talent Report: Midwestern United States
Reshoring, EV, and mission-critical work in Ohio and the Great Lakes are compressing the historical Midwest discount.
$254k
4.2% YoY
Chicago, IL
$324k
2,455
432 active
85%
10 metros
Regional mid compensation by role
Role-by-role compensation bands
| Role | Region low | Region mid | Region high | Top metro | Value metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VP of Operations | $245k | $296k | $373k | Chicago, IL ($324k) | Kansas City, MO ($288k) |
| Preconstruction Director | $181k | $220k | $276k | Chicago, IL ($240k) | Kansas City, MO ($214k) |
| Chief Estimator | $210k | $254k | $320k | Chicago, IL ($278k) | Kansas City, MO ($247k) |
| Senior Mechanical PM | $149k | $180k | $227k | Chicago, IL ($197k) | Kansas City, MO ($175k) |
Ranges reflect Gulfstream placement data (2024–Q1 2026) cross-checked against BLS OEWS. Mid = midpoint for 8–15 yr experience; low/high apply a ±15% envelope for junior and senior seniority.
Metros covered in this report
- Chicago, IL×1.08
- Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN×1.03
- Detroit, MI×1.00
- Cleveland, OH×0.97
- Columbus, OH×0.97
- Cincinnati, OH×0.96
- Indianapolis, IN×0.96
- Kansas City, MO×0.96
- St. Louis, MO×0.97
- Milwaukee, WI×0.98
Cite or embed this report
Suggested citation
Gulfstream Strategic Placements. "Leadership Comp Report — Midwest 2026 | Gulfstream SP." Regional Trade Reports, January 2026. https://gulfstreamsp.com/reports/midwest/leadershipEmbed link (rel=canonical to this page)
<a href="https://gulfstreamsp.com/reports/midwest/leadership">Leadership Comp Report — Midwest 2026 | Gulfstream SP — Gulfstream Strategic Placements</a>Hiring Leadership talent in Midwest?
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