Entry-level Accountant salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 236 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oakbrook Terrace, Naperville, Schaumburg, Northbrook, Bolingbrook.
Also listed as: Auditor, Tax Accountant
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $57,262 |
| 25th | $58,677 |
| 50th (median) | $62,400 |
| 75th | $78,350 |
| 90th | $84,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $52,000 | $51,022 | $62,000 | 143 |
| FY2021 | $51,517 | $49,379 | $62,000 | 112 |
| FY2022 | $52,000 | $50,773 | $65,000 | 133 |
| FY2023 | $54,999 | $51,501 | $69,000 | 111 |
| FY2024 | $54,974 | $54,974 | $65,000 | 123 |
| FY2025 | $62,000 | $57,262 | $75,000 | 150 |
| FY2026 | $67,200 | $61,152 | $82,000 | 86 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Accountant salary of $62,400 is worth about $60,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Accountants and Auditors in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $82,360 in May 2025 (41,360 employed). The H-1B median here is $62,400, 24% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Deloitte | $61,152 | 72 |
| EY | $86,000 | 21 |
| Crowe | $80,000 | 19 |
| Cartera Consultants | too few | 9 |
| Roth & Company | too few | 6 |
| AS Trans | too few | 3 |
| GALLEROS ROBINSON CPA's | too few | 3 |
| Standish Management | too few | 3 |
| Wondfo | too few | 3 |
| PwC | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $62,400 | 236 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $89,430 | 355 |
| Senior · Level III | $125,500 | 137 |
| Expert · Level IV | $128,007 | 155 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $57,262 | $62,400 | 236 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $73,299 | $89,430 | 355 |
| Senior · Level III | $89,336 | $125,500 | 137 |
| Expert · Level IV | $107,349 | $128,007 | 155 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.