Expert Data Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 123 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $147,472 |
| 25th | $155,000 |
| 50th (median) | $162,344 |
| 75th | $179,500 |
| 90th | $214,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2021 | $132,500 | $123,489 | $142,563 | 18 |
| FY2022 | $135,000 | $114,899 | $166,000 | 35 |
| FY2023 | $153,650 | $140,046 | $179,450 | 42 |
| FY2024 | $161,400 | $153,650 | $177,022 | 50 |
| FY2025 | $158,340 | $147,896 | $170,000 | 71 |
| FY2026 | $175,000 | $160,555 | $192,575 | 52 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Data Engineer salary of $162,344 is worth about $156,700 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 $162,344, 10% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AbbVie | $162,000 | 11 |
| Deloitte | too few | 9 |
| Caterpillar | too few | 5 |
| Continental Casualty Company | too few | 5 |
| Zurich American Insurance Company | too few | 5 |
| Team TAG Services | too few | 4 |
| Health Intelligence Company | too few | 3 |
| Hyatt | too few | 3 |
| Northwestern Memorial HealthCare | too few | 3 |
| Discover | 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.