Entry-level Electrical Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 49 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $73,237 |
| 25th | $78,000 |
| 50th (median) | $79,000 |
| 75th | $85,000 |
| 90th | $92,987 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $66,061 | $64,173 | $74,013 | 42 |
| FY2021 | $66,061 | $66,061 | $74,000 | 29 |
| FY2022 | $67,642 | $65,125 | $74,656 | 27 |
| FY2023 | $75,044 | $70,803 | $83,107 | 32 |
| FY2024 | $75,712 | $70,803 | $85,304 | 31 |
| FY2025 | $78,000 | $73,237 | $79,092 | 22 |
| FY2026 | $82,550 | $78,775 | $86,346 | 27 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Electrical Engineer salary of $79,000 is worth about $76,300 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 $79,000, 30% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Black & Veatch | too few | 3 |
| Jacobs Engineering Group | too few | 2 |
| K&A Engineering Consulting, P.C. | too few | 2 |
| KDM Engineering | too few | 2 |
| Milhouse Engineering & Construction | too few | 2 |
| New Insight Engineering | too few | 2 |
| Stantec Consulting Services | too few | 2 |
| Yaskawa America | 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 | $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.