Economics Professor salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 23 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Evanston, University Park, Naperville.
Also listed as: Assistant Professor of Economics, Assistant Professor Economics
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $82,260 |
| 25th | $102,000 |
| 50th (median) | $150,000 |
| 75th | $220,000 |
| 90th | $266,438 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2021 | $145,000 | $117,525 | $166,250 | 14 |
| FY2022 | $95,000 | $62,609 | $181,688 | 10 |
| FY2023 | $83,822 | $71,500 | $151,682 | 11 |
| FY2024 | $137,500 | $95,250 | $150,000 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $126,465 | $97,958 | $177,887 | 16 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 7 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Economics Professor salary of $150,000 is worth about $144,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Economics Teachers, Postsecondary in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $124,360 in May 2025 (260 employed). The H-1B median here is $150,000, 21% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | $167,183 | 11 |
| Northwestern University | too few | 4 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 4 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 6 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.