Mid-level Economist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 36 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Evanston, Mettawa.
Also listed as: Research Economist, Associate Economist
Median salary$160,000
Middle 50%$121k–$207.5k
vs. all levels here+7%comparison median $150,000
Filings36FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
All levels here
$75k$100k$125k$150k$175k$200k$225k$250k$275k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $110,000 |
| 25th | $121,000 |
| 50th (median) | $160,000 |
| 75th | $207,500 |
| 90th | $237,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $90,730 | $90,730 | $118,750 | 14 |
| FY2021 | $91,124 | $87,464 | $133,750 | 18 |
| FY2022 | $97,899 | $92,248 | $135,000 | 28 |
| FY2023 | $115,000 | $110,000 | $153,300 | 13 |
| FY2024 | $150,000 | $115,251 | $203,566 | 11 |
| FY2025 | $160,000 | $115,000 | $192,954 | 21 |
| FY2026 | $165,797 | $129,000 | $235,000 | 15 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median mid-level Economist salary of $160,000 is worth about $154,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone Research | $230,000 | 12 |
| Analysis Group | too few | 4 |
| The Brattle Group | too few | 4 |
| The University of Chicago | too few | 4 |
| CRA International | too few | 3 |
| Compass Lexecon | 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.