Data Scientist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 2,556 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Riverwoods, Schaumburg, Naperville, Aurora, Lake Forest.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,500 |
| 25th | $94,000 |
| 50th (median) | $116,334 |
| 75th | $141,365 |
| 90th | $164,895 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $84,250 | $80,000 | $98,000 | 192 |
| FY2021 | $89,765 | $76,000 | $112,886 | 330 |
| FY2022 | $100,000 | $83,400 | $123,000 | 570 |
| FY2023 | $103,584 | $85,000 | $125,000 | 960 |
| FY2024 | $100,000 | $89,690 | $131,498 | 1,073 |
| FY2025 | $115,000 | $93,974 | $138,736 | 1,372 |
| FY2026 | $119,558 | $96,928 | $142,210 | 1,184 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Data Scientist salary of $116,334 is worth about $112,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Data Scientists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $107,640 in May 2025 (7,940 employed). The H-1B median here is $116,334, 8% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Discover Products | $117,759 | 106 |
| Capital One | $133,118 | 96 |
| Medline Industries | $133,675 | 48 |
| TheMathCompany | $140,000 | 47 |
| PayPal | $150,000 | 43 |
| Discover | $119,558 | 41 |
| AbbVie | $143,980 | 40 |
| $160,000 | 37 | |
| CVS Health | $139,541 | 30 |
| JPMorgan Chase | $135,400 | 28 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $75,000 | 480 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $97,000 | 941 |
| Senior · Level III | $127,392 | 485 |
| Expert · Level IV | $150,500 | 509 |
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 | $71,594 | $75,000 | 480 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $96,928 | $97,000 | 941 |
| Senior · Level III | $119,558 | $127,392 | 485 |
| Expert · Level IV | $142,210 | $150,500 | 509 |
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.