Chemist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 131 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Evanston, North Chicago, Lemont, Melrose Park, Libertyville.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $61,618 |
| 25th | $65,520 |
| 50th (median) | $74,000 |
| 75th | $118,155 |
| 90th | $131,258 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $67,700 | $52,458 | $90,359 | 80 |
| FY2021 | $76,209 | $58,000 | $94,500 | 57 |
| FY2022 | $65,000 | $54,000 | $80,517 | 61 |
| FY2023 | $66,000 | $60,000 | $92,114 | 63 |
| FY2024 | $67,933 | $57,425 | $92,936 | 60 |
| FY2025 | $70,758 | $65,000 | $84,957 | 85 |
| FY2026 | $103,325 | $65,738 | $128,410 | 46 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Chemist salary of $74,000 is worth about $71,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $90,920 in May 2025 (2,630 employed). The H-1B median here is $74,000, 19% 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 | $65,520 | 24 |
| University of Chicago | $65,533 | 22 |
| AbbVie | $132,000 | 19 |
| UChicago Argonne | $70,758 | 12 |
| The University of Chicago | too few | 7 |
| Fresenius Kabi | too few | 4 |
| Cyclopure | too few | 3 |
| Medefil | too few | 3 |
| Nexus Pharmaceuticals | too few | 3 |
| Pfanstiehl | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $65,520 | 59 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $79,040 | 17 |
| Senior · Level III | $101,650 | 27 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,613 | 26 |
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 | $40,082 | $65,520 | 59 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $78,853 | $79,040 | 17 |
| Senior · Level III | $51,646 | $101,650 | 27 |
| Expert · Level IV | $119,829 | $130,613 | 26 |
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.