Expert Data Scientist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 509 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $138,715 |
| 25th | $142,210 |
| 50th (median) | $150,500 |
| 75th | $171,221 |
| 90th | $195,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $125,000 | $116,000 | $132,750 | 16 |
| FY2021 | $116,000 | $115,380 | $121,389 | 40 |
| FY2022 | $130,000 | $116,000 | $153,000 | 106 |
| FY2023 | $140,000 | $123,000 | $159,990 | 190 |
| FY2024 | $139,000 | $131,946 | $164,475 | 200 |
| FY2025 | $150,000 | $138,715 | $176,701 | 290 |
| FY2026 | $152,000 | $142,210 | $170,000 | 219 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Data Scientist salary of $150,500 is worth about $145,300 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 $150,500, 40% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Discover Products | $138,715 | 43 |
| Capital One | $142,210 | 36 |
| McDonald's | $160,000 | 24 |
| AbbVie | $164,528 | 16 |
| TheMathCompany | $180,000 | 15 |
| CVS Health | $169,000 | 10 |
| Discover | $138,715 | 10 |
| Citi | too few | 9 |
| JPMorgan Chase | too few | 9 |
| Medline Industries | too few | 9 |
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.