Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 2,993 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Naperville, Schaumburg, Riverwoods, Deerfield, Waukegan.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $82,846 |
| 25th | $88,150 |
| 50th (median) | $107,640 |
| 75th | $132,434 |
| 90th | $153,401 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $81,723 | $77,438 | $100,000 | 2,029 |
| FY2021 | $95,500 | $75,800 | $115,378 | 1,986 |
| FY2022 | $95,472 | $76,045 | $120,000 | 2,402 |
| FY2023 | $93,912 | $72,500 | $118,140 | 1,694 |
| FY2024 | $98,259 | $78,354 | $120,000 | 2,251 |
| FY2025 | $112,965 | $88,150 | $137,758 | 1,916 |
| FY2026 | $107,640 | $82,846 | $132,434 | 1,077 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $107,640 is worth about $103,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $101,660 in May 2025 (7,800 employed). The H-1B median here is $107,640, 6% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $107,640 | 791 |
| Infosys | $88,150 | 245 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | $88,150 | 243 |
| HCLTech | $112,965 | 56 |
| Accenture | $146,300 | 45 |
| Discover | $137,758 | 43 |
| Capgemini America | $138,696 | 42 |
| ZS Associates | $159,000 | 41 |
| Wipro | $88,150 | 33 |
| Hexaware Technologies | $110,303 | 28 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $72,000 | 113 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $88,150 | 1,192 |
| Senior · Level III | $112,965 | 972 |
| Expert · Level IV | $137,758 | 692 |
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 | $63,357 | $72,000 | 113 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $88,150 | $88,150 | 1,192 |
| Senior · Level III | $112,965 | $112,965 | 972 |
| Expert · Level IV | $132,434 | $137,758 | 692 |
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.