Expert Database Administrator salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 69 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Naperville, Schaumburg, Aurora, Deerfield, Lisle.
Also listed as: DBA
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $133,973 |
| 25th | $136,739 |
| 50th (median) | $144,580 |
| 75th | $160,690 |
| 90th | $221,095 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $127,060 | $114,483 | $139,894 | 35 |
| FY2021 | $120,000 | $117,894 | $138,000 | 43 |
| FY2022 | $122,527 | $120,000 | $135,014 | 44 |
| FY2023 | $135,200 | $126,250 | $146,325 | 35 |
| FY2024 | $147,159 | $137,589 | $163,250 | 22 |
| FY2025 | $142,029 | $136,739 | $159,857 | 40 |
| FY2026 | $145,101 | $140,000 | $180,000 | 29 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Database Administrator salary of $144,580 is worth about $139,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Database Administrators in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $109,680 in May 2025 (1,870 employed). The H-1B median here is $144,580, 32% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| EY | $228,930 | 12 |
| Medline Industries | too few | 4 |
| Deloitte | too few | 2 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield Association | too few | 2 |
| BlueCross BlueShield Association | too few | 2 |
| Molex | too few | 2 |
| Rush University Medical Center | too few | 2 |
| The Chamberlain Group | too few | 2 |
| The Northern Trust Company | 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 | $75,649 | 58 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,000 | 219 |
| Senior · Level III | $136,800 | 73 |
| Expert · Level IV | $144,580 | 69 |
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 | $59,405 | $75,649 | 58 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,176 | $100,000 | 219 |
| Senior · Level III | $110,178 | $136,800 | 73 |
| Expert · Level IV | $136,739 | $144,580 | 69 |
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.