H-1B ML Engineer Salary in Illinois (2024)
Prevailing wages, top employers, and LCA data for H-1B ml engineers in Illinois.
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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