Entry-level Data Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 31 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $72,000 |
| 25th | $78,041 |
| 50th (median) | $90,000 |
| 75th | $106,751 |
| 90th | $121,400 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 0 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2022 | $72,883 | $72,883 | $90,000 | 11 |
| FY2023 | $69,000 | $63,000 | $87,000 | 25 |
| FY2024 | $92,949 | $87,063 | $102,940 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $79,394 | $75,000 | $90,000 | 21 |
| FY2026 | $112,423 | $101,338 | $122,300 | 10 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Data Engineer salary of $90,000 is worth about $86,900 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 $90,000, 39% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Deloitte | too few | 3 |
| Northwestern Memorial HealthCare | too few | 3 |
| iManage | too few | 2 |
| Proper Consulting Group | 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 | $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.