Electrical Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 273 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oakbrook Terrace, Lisle, St. Charles, Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove.
Also listed as: Electrical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,990 |
| 25th | $95,000 |
| 50th (median) | $113,027 |
| 75th | $132,912 |
| 90th | $145,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $80,100 | $78,779 | $99,720 | 158 |
| FY2021 | $88,319 | $81,931 | $105,000 | 171 |
| FY2022 | $92,500 | $80,933 | $108,949 | 180 |
| FY2023 | $100,180 | $85,170 | $118,817 | 150 |
| FY2024 | $93,804 | $87,339 | $117,000 | 165 |
| FY2025 | $112,481 | $93,122 | $131,821 | 156 |
| FY2026 | $113,100 | $98,613 | $133,500 | 117 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Electrical Engineer salary of $113,027 is worth about $109,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Electrical Engineers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $113,520 in May 2025 (4,290 employed). The H-1B median here is $113,027, 0% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Edison, An Exelon Company | $98,613 | 19 |
| Milwaukee Electric Tool | too few | 8 |
| Yaskawa America | too few | 8 |
| S&C Electric Company | too few | 7 |
| Milhouse Engineering & Construction | too few | 6 |
| SAI Advanced Power Solutions | too few | 6 |
| Traton R&D | too few | 6 |
| Quanta Technology | too few | 5 |
| SBA Acquisition Group | too few | 5 |
| Tech Mahindra | too few | 4 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $79,000 | 49 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $99,000 | 100 |
| Senior · Level III | $123,000 | 55 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,000 | 50 |
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 | $78,749 | $79,000 | 49 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,613 | $99,000 | 100 |
| Senior · Level III | $118,498 | $123,000 | 55 |
| Expert · Level IV | $138,362 | $140,000 | 50 |
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.