Biochemist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 92 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Evanston, North Chicago, Lemont, Abbott Park, Elmhurst.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $61,993 |
| 25th | $64,950 |
| 50th (median) | $71,554 |
| 75th | $85,000 |
| 90th | $114,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $55,141 | $50,760 | $65,000 | 83 |
| FY2021 | $57,034 | $52,704 | $68,429 | 101 |
| FY2022 | $62,333 | $55,750 | $74,000 | 71 |
| FY2023 | $65,000 | $59,751 | $75,693 | 59 |
| FY2024 | $67,329 | $61,118 | $78,781 | 64 |
| FY2025 | $74,544 | $65,000 | $90,000 | 56 |
| FY2026 | $70,000 | $63,930 | $75,000 | 36 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Biochemist salary of $71,554 is worth about $69,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Biochemists and Biophysicists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $85,780 in May 2025 (170 employed). The H-1B median here is $71,554, 17% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | $72,000 | 37 |
| The University of Chicago | $70,000 | 19 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | $65,000 | 17 |
| AbbVie | too few | 5 |
| University of Chicago | too few | 3 |
| Kashiv BioSciences | 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 | $68,787 | 64 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $80,726 | 15 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 3 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
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 | $59,467 | $68,787 | 64 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $60,590 | $80,726 | 15 |
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.