Data Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 405 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Schaumburg, Mettawa, Riverwoods, Oak Brook, Naperville.
Also listed as: Database Architect, Data Architect
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $97,000 |
| 25th | $120,578 |
| 50th (median) | $140,670 |
| 75th | $160,555 |
| 90th | $178,849 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $77,500 | $77,438 | $96,689 | 80 |
| FY2021 | $99,713 | $77,034 | $125,880 | 78 |
| FY2022 | $110,000 | $85,250 | $131,739 | 171 |
| FY2023 | $114,109 | $88,150 | $140,000 | 187 |
| FY2024 | $131,435 | $109,242 | $153,650 | 167 |
| FY2025 | $138,858 | $110,069 | $156,556 | 244 |
| FY2026 | $145,000 | $127,296 | $165,000 | 161 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Data Engineer salary of $140,670 is worth about $135,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Database Architects in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $147,490 in May 2025 (1,260 employed). The H-1B median here is $140,670, 5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AbbVie | $150,000 | 23 |
| Medline Industries | $140,000 | 21 |
| Deloitte | $160,555 | 17 |
| Northwestern Memorial HealthCare | $110,282 | 11 |
| Zurich American Insurance Company | $152,767 | 10 |
| Discover | too few | 9 |
| Beyond Finance | too few | 7 |
| Wavicle Data Solutions | too few | 7 |
| Avanade | too few | 6 |
| Continental Casualty Company | too few | 6 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $90,000 | 31 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $114,000 | 109 |
| Senior · Level III | $140,000 | 110 |
| Expert · Level IV | $162,344 | 123 |
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 | $71,386 | $90,000 | 31 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $96,741 | $114,000 | 109 |
| Senior · Level III | $136,885 | $140,000 | 110 |
| Expert · Level IV | $160,555 | $162,344 | 123 |
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.