Entry-level Economist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 34 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Evanston, Mettawa.
Also listed as: Research Economist, Associate Economist
Median salary$93,750
Middle 50%$81k–$110k
vs. all levels here−38%comparison median $150,000
Filings34FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
All levels here
$25k$50k$75k$100k$125k$150k$175k$200k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,000 |
| 25th | $81,021 |
| 50th (median) | $93,750 |
| 75th | $110,000 |
| 90th | $153,558 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $73,154 | $55,000 | $80,000 | 24 |
| FY2021 | $67,122 | $62,400 | $67,122 | 31 |
| FY2022 | $69,633 | $55,125 | $87,563 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $89,000 | $73,726 | $92,500 | 20 |
| FY2024 | $91,750 | $85,000 | $109,250 | 18 |
| FY2025 | $87,000 | $80,000 | $95,520 | 25 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Economist salary of $93,750 is worth about $90,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| The Brattle Group | too few | 8 |
| Analysis Group | too few | 6 |
| CRA International | too few | 3 |
| Northwestern University | too few | 3 |
| AECOM Technical Services | too few | 2 |
| RCF Economic & Financial Consulting | 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 | $93,750 | 34 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $160,000 | 36 |
| Senior · Level III | $163,473 | 12 |
| Expert · Level IV | $245,000 | 14 |
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 | $62,296 | $93,750 | 34 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $105,165 | $160,000 | 36 |
| Senior · Level III | $123,115 | $163,473 | 12 |
| Expert · Level IV | $165,797 | $245,000 | 14 |
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.