Senior Accountant salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 137 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $92,150 |
| 25th | $104,029 |
| 50th (median) | $125,500 |
| 75th | $144,420 |
| 90th | $161,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $100,200 | $90,000 | $113,728 | 79 |
| FY2021 | $93,650 | $85,000 | $105,488 | 48 |
| FY2022 | $101,616 | $85,000 | $117,980 | 77 |
| FY2023 | $131,500 | $98,031 | $149,487 | 86 |
| FY2024 | $125,505 | $102,510 | $142,950 | 82 |
| FY2025 | $132,344 | $110,000 | $144,855 | 86 |
| FY2026 | $122,400 | $100,000 | $137,923 | 51 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median senior Accountant salary of $125,500 is worth about $121,100 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 $125,500, 52% 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 | $141,207 | 64 |
| Grant Thornton Advisors | too few | 7 |
| Kpmg | too few | 5 |
| too few | 4 | |
| Amazon | too few | 3 |
| Bdo | too few | 3 |
| Pine Tree Commercial Realty | too few | 3 |
| PwC US Tax | too few | 3 |
| CohnReznick Advisory | too few | 2 |
| Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell, P.C. | 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.