H-1B Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Chicago 2026

The median offered wage on certified H-1B filings for machine learning engineer roles in Chicago, IL is $136,156, with a 25th–75th percentile range of $111,675–$162,250. Based on 78 certified LCA filings (FY2022–FY2024).

78
Certified Filings
$136,156
Median Offered Wage
55.1%
Level III/IV Share

Offered Wage Distribution

25th percentile$111,675
Median$136,156
75th percentile$162,250
Average$141,439

Offered wages as certified on the LCA. Source: DOL LCA disclosure data, FY2022–FY2024 (78 certified filings).

Most Common Certified Job Titles

Job Title (as filed)FilingsMedian
Machine Learning Engineer12$125,000
AI Machine Learning Scientist6$128,597
Senior Machine Learning Engineer6$160,000

Job titles exactly as certified on the LCA, ranked by filing volume.

Top Sponsoring Employers

EmployerFilingsMedian Wage
Elevance Health, Inc.8$140,546
McDonald's Corporation5$132,480

Employers with at least 5 certified filings for this role and city, FY2022–FY2024.

DOL Wage Level Distribution

Every certified LCA records a DOL prevailing wage level from I to IV, reflecting the experience and complexity of the role. The table below shows how many machine learning engineer filings in Chicago were certified at each level, real filing counts, not estimated wages per level. DOL wage levels are a Department of Labor classification and are unrelated to an employer's internal engineering levels.

DOL Wage LevelCertified FilingsShare
Level I79%
Level II2835.9%
Level III1823.1%
Level IV2532.1%

Based on 78 filings with a recorded wage level, FY2022–FY2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Facts

Certified Filings
78
Median Wage
$136,156
National Median
$111,197
Data Vintage
FY2022–FY2024

Methodology

Figures on this page are computed directly from certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) in US Department of Labor disclosure data, 78 certified filings for machine learning engineer roles in Chicago, IL (FY2022–FY2024). Wages shown are offered wages as certified on the LCA, not DOL prevailing-wage floors. Percentiles are computed across individual filings; no figures are modeled or estimated.