Mid-level Accountant salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 355 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $73,299 |
| 25th | $76,544 |
| 50th (median) | $89,430 |
| 75th | $102,000 |
| 90th | $117,950 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $74,753 | $67,603 | $87,660 | 198 |
| FY2021 | $70,493 | $64,480 | $82,000 | 165 |
| FY2022 | $80,000 | $64,709 | $96,597 | 163 |
| FY2023 | $79,500 | $69,000 | $95,288 | 231 |
| FY2024 | $85,501 | $72,800 | $101,000 | 197 |
| FY2025 | $91,417 | $75,400 | $102,180 | 237 |
| FY2026 | $86,000 | $76,558 | $100,391 | 118 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median mid-level Accountant salary of $89,430 is worth about $86,300 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 $89,430, 9% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| EY | $99,878 | 142 |
| Deloitte | $76,544 | 74 |
| Bdo | too few | 7 |
| Grant Thornton Advisors | too few | 7 |
| Kpmg | too few | 6 |
| too few | 5 | |
| Cdh Cpa Pllc | too few | 5 |
| IDEX Service | too few | 4 |
| Pasquesi Sheppard | too few | 4 |
| PwC US Tax | too few | 4 |
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.