Expert Accountant salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 155 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $107,349 |
| 25th | $108,000 |
| 50th (median) | $128,007 |
| 75th | $153,200 |
| 90th | $187,636 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $117,600 | $102,000 | $134,958 | 66 |
| FY2021 | $108,400 | $100,000 | $142,867 | 46 |
| FY2022 | $120,000 | $92,581 | $145,000 | 63 |
| FY2023 | $122,000 | $103,771 | $144,455 | 57 |
| FY2024 | $125,000 | $110,000 | $156,750 | 49 |
| FY2025 | $121,624 | $107,349 | $169,225 | 72 |
| FY2026 | $131,000 | $110,000 | $150,000 | 83 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Accountant salary of $128,007 is worth about $123,600 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 $128,007, 55% higher.
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 | $111,520 | 38 |
| EY | $181,894 | 16 |
| Nav Consulting | $150,000 | 15 |
| Grant Thornton Advisors | too few | 7 |
| Kpmg | too few | 7 |
| too few | 5 | |
| Bdo | too few | 4 |
| Pine Tree Commercial Realty | too few | 4 |
| Rsm | too few | 3 |
| AbbVie | 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.