Prevailing Wage · 2025-26
H1B Prevailing Wage in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
The U.S. Department of Labor sets four prevailing wage levels for every occupation in each wage area. These are the legal minimum H1B salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN across 149 occupations, from entry (Level I) to senior (Level IV), covering 13 counties.
For example, the H1B prevailing wage for Software Developers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $85,467 at Level I (entry), rising to $153,317 at Level IV (senior), for the 2025-26 wage year.
Counties in this wage area
13 countiesEvery county below uses the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN prevailing wage shown on this page.
| Occupation | Level IEntry | Level IIQualified | Level IIIExperienced | Level IVSenior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $85,467 | $108,077 | $130,707 | $153,317 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $71,427 | $88,088 | $104,728 | $121,389 |
| Data Scientists | $74,277 | $96,928 | $119,558 | $142,210 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $114,421 | $143,874 | $173,326 | $202,779 |
| Computer Programmers | $58,032 | $76,835 | $95,659 | $114,462 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $63,586 | $81,702 | $99,840 | $117,957 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $89,253 | $107,536 | $125,840 | $144,123 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $73,341 | $90,106 | $106,870 | $123,635 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $70,886 | $93,933 | $116,979 | $140,026 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $61,152 | $76,544 | $91,957 | $107,349 |
| Database Administrators | $62,587 | $86,382 | $110,178 | $133,973 |
| Electrical Engineers | $78,749 | $98,613 | $118,498 | $138,362 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $61,131 | $79,872 | $98,592 | $117,333 |
| Management Analysts | $70,179 | $98,946 | $127,691 | $156,458 |
| Operations Research Analysts | $66,706 | $85,904 | $105,102 | $124,301 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $69,638 | $86,486 | $103,334 | $120,182 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $51,958 | $90,064 | $128,190 | $166,296 |
| Industrial Engineers | $71,240 | $87,610 | $104,000 | $120,370 |
| Physicians, All Other | $67,621 | $146,994 | $226,387 | $305,760 |
| Database Architects | $89,565 | $113,235 | $136,885 | $160,555 |
| Information Security Analysts | $75,608 | $98,176 | $120,765 | $143,333 |
| Civil Engineers | $74,256 | $90,875 | $107,474 | $124,093 |
| Project Management Specialists | $68,203 | $89,856 | $111,530 | $133,182 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $53,685 | $69,410 | $85,134 | $100,859 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $49,754 | $66,290 | $82,805 | $99,341 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $45,365 | $57,970 | $70,595 | $83,200 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $116,126 | $138,528 | $160,930 | $183,331 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,395,200 | $128,980,800 | $153,566,400 | $178,152,000 |
| Sales Engineers | $78,707 | $94,578 | $110,427 | $126,298 |
| Computer Network Architects | $99,424 | $120,702 | $141,960 | $163,238 |
| Statisticians | $91,250 | $107,598 | $123,926 | $140,275 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $115,190,400 | $179,976,160 | $244,759,840 | $309,545,600 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $116,667,200 | $150,203,040 | $183,740,960 | $217,276,800 |
| Lawyers | $87,589 | $136,677 | $185,786 | $234,874 |
| Marketing Managers | $97,864 | $129,917 | $161,990 | $194,043 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,062,400 | $151,971,040 | $212,881,760 | $273,790,400 |
| Materials Engineers | $62,629 | $83,637 | $104,645 | $125,653 |
| Chemists | $65,291 | $83,470 | $101,650 | $119,829 |
| Physicists | $80,142 | $104,936 | $129,730 | $154,523 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $122,824,000 | $186,008,160 | $249,190,240 | $312,374,400 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $53,934 | $75,150 | $96,366 | $117,582 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $64,584 | $89,274 | $113,942 | $138,632 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $50,523 | $81,016 | $111,509 | $142,002 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $101,982,400 | $154,980,800 | $207,979,200 | $260,977,600 |
| Physical Therapists | $85,634 | $97,323 | $108,992 | $120,682 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $83,096 | $168,875 | $254,675 | $340,454 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $64,334 | $81,848 | $99,341 | $116,854 |
| Financial Managers | $107,307 | $145,309 | $183,310 | $221,312 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $58,053 | $82,846 | $107,640 | $132,434 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $56,098 | $71,989 | $87,901 | $103,792 |
| Construction Managers | $73,299 | $96,637 | $119,954 | $143,291 |
| Logisticians | $50,253 | $63,315 | $76,378 | $89,440 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $61,589 | $75,858 | $90,126 | $104,395 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $110,926,400 | $135,372,640 | $159,820,960 | $184,267,200 |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,342,400 | $129,854,400 | $161,366,400 | $192,878,400 |
| Registered Nurses | $73,195 | $83,845 | $94,474 | $105,123 |
| Dentists, General | $99,611 | $142,709 | $185,827 | $228,925 |
| Biological Technicians | $39,021 | $48,693 | $58,386 | $68,058 |
| Graphic Designers | $43,846 | $55,286 | $66,747 | $78,187 |
| General and Operations Managers | $57,595 | $99,902 | $142,230 | $184,538 |
| Chemical Engineers | $78,853 | $99,507 | $120,182 | $140,837 |
| Materials Scientists | $86,528 | $106,371 | $126,194 | $146,037 |
| Occupational Therapists | $71,968 | $85,176 | $98,363 | $111,571 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $88,941 | $109,782 | $130,624 | $151,466 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors | $39,686 | $46,051 | $52,437 | $58,802 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $112,403,200 | $141,440,000 | $170,476,800 | $199,513,600 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $152,963,200 | $206,148,800 | $259,334,400 | $312,520,000 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $70,637 | $128,835 | $187,034 | $245,232 |
| Web Developers | $65,374 | $82,202 | $99,050 | $115,877 |
| Cost Estimators | $53,893 | $69,451 | $84,989 | $100,547 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $44,034 | $56,763 | $69,514 | $82,243 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $54,891 | $65,333 | $75,795 | $86,237 |
| Economists | $74,859 | $105,165 | $135,491 | $165,797 |
| Pediatricians, General | $99,570 | $155,958 | $212,326 | $268,715 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $95,805 | $132,683 | $169,541 | $206,419 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $51,917 | $65,354 | $78,770 | $92,206 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $51,334 | $63,898 | $76,482 | $89,045 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,840,000 | $142,036,960 | $184,231,840 | $226,428,800 |
| Mental Health Counselors | $44,824 | $57,803 | $70,803 | $83,782 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | $116,147,200 | $138,756,800 | $161,366,400 | $183,976,000 |
| Pharmacists | $105,435 | $121,139 | $136,843 | $152,547 |
| Neurologists | $79,934 | $162,594 | $245,253 | $327,912 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $78,541 | $206,107 | $333,674 | $461,240 |
| Sales Managers | $89,981 | $127,962 | $165,942 | $203,923 |
| Microbiologists | $54,642 | $67,704 | $80,787 | $93,850 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $83,158 | $112,278 | $141,398 | $170,518 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $39,187 | $49,920 | $60,653 | $71,386 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,462,400 | $133,342,560 | $178,220,640 | $223,100,800 |
| Psychiatrists | $101,400 | $187,699 | $274,019 | $360,318 |
| Environmental Engineers | $78,416 | $101,234 | $124,030 | $146,848 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $48,963 | $61,381 | $73,798 | $86,216 |
| Epidemiologists | $67,496 | $80,850 | $94,224 | $107,578 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $106,787,200 | $137,841,600 | $168,896,000 | $199,950,400 |
| Chief Executives | $137,426 | $232,086 | $326,747 | $421,408 |
| Purchasing Managers | $105,019 | $128,419 | $151,798 | $175,198 |
| Mathematicians | $78,208 | $100,547 | $122,907 | $145,246 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $82,804,800 | $110,766,240 | $138,729,760 | $166,691,200 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $65,998 | $86,403 | $106,829 | $127,234 |
| Instructional Coordinators | $54,454 | $68,494 | $82,555 | $96,595 |
| Veterinarians | $82,826 | $124,800 | $166,795 | $208,770 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $64,022 | $82,451 | $100,880 | $119,309 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $44,366 | $59,530 | $74,714 | $89,877 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other | $42,411 | $60,382 | $78,374 | $96,346 |
| Credit Analysts | $61,880 | $82,368 | $102,856 | $123,344 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $58,240 | $80,995 | $103,771 | $126,526 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $132,620,800 | $167,184,160 | $201,745,440 | $236,308,800 |
| Actuaries | $71,698 | $99,590 | $127,483 | $155,376 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $80,184 | $133,682 | $187,158 | $240,656 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $70,158 | $85,675 | $101,171 | $116,688 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $75,026 | $128,066 | $181,085 | $234,125 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $67,350,400 | $98,619,040 | $129,889,760 | $161,158,400 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $119,995,200 | $162,697,600 | $205,400,000 | $248,102,400 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $62,462 | $76,086 | $89,731 | $103,355 |
| Interior Designers | $47,112 | $62,005 | $76,877 | $91,770 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $122,844,800 | $159,729,440 | $196,616,160 | $233,500,800 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $123,198,400 | $152,116,640 | $181,036,960 | $209,955,200 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $40,955 | $56,930 | $72,925 | $88,899 |
| Budget Analysts | $64,272 | $79,477 | $94,661 | $109,866 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $67,350,400 | $104,187,200 | $141,024,000 | $177,860,800 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $72,925 | $98,613 | $124,322 | $150,010 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $71,926 | $86,757 | $101,566 | $116,397 |
| Landscape Architects | $45,531 | $62,171 | $78,790 | $95,430 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,171,200 | $125,305,440 | $162,441,760 | $199,576,000 |
| Clergy | $38,501 | $48,714 | $58,926 | $69,139 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $115,918,400 | $158,231,840 | $200,547,360 | $242,860,800 |
| Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products | $53,498 | $66,269 | $79,061 | $91,832 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $49,670 | $68,494 | $87,339 | $106,163 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $90,563 | $119,475 | $148,366 | $177,278 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,774,400 | $128,529,440 | $168,286,560 | $208,041,600 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $54,600 | $68,224 | $81,827 | $95,451 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $62,462 | $72,155 | $81,827 | $91,520 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $129,147,200 | $160,478,240 | $191,811,360 | $223,142,400 |
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $105,747,200 | $135,214,560 | $164,679,840 | $194,147,200 |
| Compliance Officers | $56,285 | $72,218 | $88,150 | $104,083 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $65,021 | $79,498 | $93,995 | $108,472 |
| Technical Writers | $59,197 | $73,133 | $87,048 | $100,984 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | $43,118 | $50,586 | $58,074 | $65,541 |
| Human Resources Managers | $98,426 | $127,213 | $156,000 | $184,787 |
| Engineers, All Other | $74,838 | $95,410 | $115,981 | $136,552 |
| Financial Examiners | $69,763 | $91,250 | $112,715 | $134,202 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $111,363,200 | $146,300,960 | $181,236,640 | $216,174,400 |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $103,438,400 | $125,305,440 | $147,174,560 | $169,041,600 |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $123,489,600 | $170,108,640 | $216,729,760 | $263,348,800 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $113,859,200 | $150,460,960 | $187,060,640 | $223,662,400 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $114,982,400 | $136,974,240 | $158,968,160 | $180,960,000 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $110,032,000 | $147,867,200 | $185,702,400 | $223,537,600 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $77,667 | $99,507 | $121,368 | $143,208 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $43,472 | $52,333 | $61,173 | $70,034 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $53,310 | $61,256 | $69,222 | $77,168 |
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Prevailing wages are published by the U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC for the 2025-26 wage year, based on BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area. Hourly rates are annualized at 2,080 hours. These are the legal minimum an employer must pay; actual offers are often higher.