H-1B Software Engineer Salary in Illinois (2024)
Prevailing wages, top employers, and LCA data for H-1B software engineers in Illinois.
Key Notes for Illinois
Chicago FinTech Hub
Chicago is a major FinTech and trading technology hub. Companies like CME Group, Citadel, and PEAK6 sponsor H-1B SWEs at premium wages for quantitative and systems roles.
Lower Wage Floors
DOL Level I for SWE in Chicago MSA is ~$82K — below coastal markets. Most employers file at Level II–III, keeping median wages around $112K.
Consulting Firm Density
Accenture, Deloitte, and McKinsey have large Chicago technology centers. Consulting firm H-1B petitions are common but sometimes at lower wage levels than product companies.
State Income Tax
Illinois has a flat 4.95% state income tax — lower than California and New York, comparable to Massachusetts.
Top H-1B Employers
- Motorola Solutions
- Boeing
- Accenture Chicago
- Discover Financial
- Allstate
- United Airlines
- Zebra Technologies
- GATX
- Exelon
- Walgreens
Top Cities in Illinois
- Chicago
- Schaumburg
- Lisle
- Downers Grove
- Naperville
- Rosemont
- Oakbrook Terrace
- Peoria
- Rockford
- Springfield
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the prevailing wage for H-1B software engineers in Illinois?
DOL prevailing wages for SWE (SOC 15-1252) in Chicago MSA range from ~$82K (Level I) to ~$142K (Level IV). Median LCA wage is approximately $112,000.
Is Chicago a good city for H-1B software engineers?
Chicago is solid for enterprise tech, FinTech, and trading technology. Wages are lower than coastal tech hubs, but CoL is meaningfully lower. The H-1B ecosystem is stable with large established employers.
Which Chicago employers sponsor the most H-1B software engineers?
Accenture, Motorola Solutions, and Discover Financial are consistent top-volume sponsors. Citadel and CME Group sponsor fewer but at significantly higher wage levels (Level IV, $160K+).
How does Chicago compare to other Midwest tech markets for H-1B SWEs?
Chicago leads the Midwest in H-1B SWE volume. Columbus (Amazon, Nationwide), Minneapolis (Target, UnitedHealth), and Detroit (Ford, GM tech) are smaller markets but growing.
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