Senior Economist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 12 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Evanston, Mettawa.
Also listed as: Research Economist, Associate Economist
Median salary$163,473
Middle 50%$146.5k–$195.8k
vs. all levels here+9%comparison median $150,000
Filings12FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
All levels here
$100k$125k$150k$175k$200k$225k$250k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $135,280 |
| 25th | $146,500 |
| 50th (median) | $163,473 |
| 75th | $195,750 |
| 90th | $223,800 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2021 | $110,553 | $107,806 | $166,142 | 14 |
| FY2022 | $175,000 | $152,500 | $185,000 | 11 |
| FY2023 | $188,760 | $175,000 | $200,000 | 13 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 4 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median senior Economist salary of $163,473 is worth about $157,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Compass Lexecon | too few | 2 |
| Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago | 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.