What is the median H-1B salary in Chicago?

Across all certified H-1B LCA filings with a Chicago, IL worksite, the median offered wage is $107,931, with a 25th–75th percentile range of $85,000 to $140,000. This covers 29,683 certified filings (FY2021–FY2024). The national median across all filings is $111,197.

Which roles pay the most for H-1B workers in Chicago?

By median offered wage, the highest-paying roles with meaningful filing volume in Chicago, IL are Machine Learning Engineer ($136,156, 78 filings), Product Manager ($131,325, 266 filings), Data Engineer ($123,042, 512 filings), Software Engineer ($116,251, 8,573 filings).

Which employers sponsor the most H-1B workers in Chicago?

By certified filing volume the leading Chicago, IL sponsors are Ernst & Young U.S. LLP (2,131 filings, median $132,562), Capgemini America Inc (836 filings, median $97,000), The University of Chicago (652 filings, median $72,000), Cognizant Technology Solutions Us Corp (547 filings, median $92,061), Deloitte Consulting LLP (496 filings, median $130,583). Counts cover FY2021–FY2024.

What DOL wage levels do H-1B filings in Chicago use?

Of 28,580 Chicago, IL filings with a recorded DOL wage level, 4,816 are Level I, 11,986 Level II, 6,420 Level III and 5,358 Level IV, 41.2% at Level III or IV, against a national figure of 39.3%. DOL wage levels are a Department of Labor classification of role experience and complexity, unrelated to an employer's internal engineering levels.

Does a higher DOL wage level improve H-1B lottery odds?

Since February 27, 2026, USCIS weights the H-1B lottery by DOL wage level, Level IV registrations get 4 entries, Level III get 3, Level II get 2, and Level I get 1, so an offer certified at a higher wage level also improves selection odds under the current system.

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H-1B Salaries in Chicago 2026

Across all certified H-1B filings with a Chicago, IL worksite, the median offered wage is $107,931 (25th–75th percentile $85,000–$140,000), based on 29,683 certified LCA filings (FY2021–FY2024).

29,683

Certified Filings

$107,931

Median Offered Wage

41.2%

Level III/IV Share

H-1B Salary by Role in Chicago

Role	Filings	Median	25th–75th %ile
Software Engineer	8,573	$116,251	$97,760 – $140,000
Data Engineer	512	$123,042	$96,935 – $150,000
Data Scientist	1,056	$115,710	$89,690 – $141,147
Machine Learning Engineer	78	$136,156	$111,675 – $162,250
Product Manager	266	$131,325	$107,948 – $151,022
DevOps Engineer	241	$103,000	$90,400 – $130,000

Offered wages as certified on the LCA. Source: DOL LCA disclosure data, FY2021–FY2024.

Top H-1B Sponsors in Chicago

Employer	Filings	Median Wage	Level III/IV
Ernst & Young U.S. LLP	2,131	$132,562	38.1%
Capgemini America Inc	836	$97,000	51.6%
The University of Chicago	652	$72,000	20.2%
Cognizant Technology Solutions Us Corp	547	$92,061	60.5%
Deloitte Consulting LLP	496	$130,583	43.3%
Infosys Limited	455	$82,202	45.7%

Ranked by certified filing volume, FY2021–FY2024. Median is the employer's own median offered wage for this worksite.

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 as certified with the Department of Labor. The counts below are real filing counts for Chicago, not estimated wages per level. DOL wage levels are unrelated to an employer's internal engineering levels.

DOL Wage Level	Certified Filings	Share
Level I	4,816	16.9%
Level II	11,986	41.9%
Level III	6,420	22.5%
Level IV	5,358	18.7%

Based on 28,580 filings with a recorded wage level, FY2021–FY2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago Quick Facts

Certified Filings: 29,683
Median Wage: $107,931
National Median: $111,197
Data Vintage: FY2021–FY2024

Methodology

Figures on this page are computed directly from certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) in US Department of Labor disclosure data, 29,683 certified filings with a Chicago, IL worksite (FY2021–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.

DOL LCA Disclosure Data