H-1B ML Engineer Salary in Illinois (2024)

Prevailing wages, top employers, and LCA data for H-1B ml engineers in Illinois.

$112,000
Median LCA Wage
$92,000
25th Percentile
$142,000
75th Percentile
~1,800/yr
Annual LCA Filings
Typical Prevailing Wage LevelLevel II–III
SOC Code15-1252
StateIllinois (IL)

Key Notes for Illinois

Trading and Quant ML

Citadel, Two Sigma (Chicago), and Jump Trading are top-paying ML employers in Illinois. Quantitative ML roles (market microstructure, signal generation) pay Level IV ($140K+).

Healthcare ML

Tempus AI (oncology data) and Outcome Health are Illinois-headquartered health AI companies actively sponsoring ML engineers on H-1B.

University of Chicago

UChicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) produce significant ML talent. UIUC's proximity to Chicago tech market is notable.

Smaller Market

Illinois has fewer ML H-1B filings than CA/WA/TX but a distinctive niche in trading ML, health AI, and enterprise automation.

Top H-1B Employers

  • Citadel
  • Morningstar
  • CME Group
  • Motorola Solutions AI
  • Uptake
  • Zebra Technologies
  • Tempus
  • Narrative Science
  • Avant
  • Outcome Health

Top Cities in Illinois

  • Chicago
  • Schaumburg
  • Evanston
  • Naperville
  • Downers Grove
  • Rosemont
  • Bloomington
  • Peoria
  • Rockford
  • Champaign

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the prevailing wage for H-1B ML engineers in Illinois?

DOL prevailing wages for ML Engineers (SOC 15-1252) in Chicago MSA range from ~$82K (Level I) to ~$142K (Level IV). Median LCA wage is approximately $112,000.

Do trading firms in Chicago sponsor ML engineers on H-1B?

Yes. Citadel, Jump Trading, and Two Sigma (Chicago office) are among the most active H-1B ML sponsors in Illinois. Compensation is Level IV — expect $140K–$200K+ base depending on seniority.

Is healthcare ML a viable H-1B path in Illinois?

Yes. Tempus AI (now publicly listed) and Outcome Health have sponsored ML engineers on H-1B for oncology data, clinical NLP, and patient stratification work.

How does Chicago compare to NYC for H-1B ML engineers?

Chicago leads in trading ML. NYC leads in FinTech ML, media ML, and overall volume. Wages are comparable; NYC has significantly higher CoL.

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