Mid-level Electrical Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 100 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $93,122 |
| 25th | $98,613 |
| 50th (median) | $99,000 |
| 75th | $110,071 |
| 90th | $120,100 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $80,000 | $79,518 | $85,000 | 68 |
| FY2021 | $85,000 | $81,931 | $95,688 | 88 |
| FY2022 | $84,427 | $80,933 | $95,000 | 90 |
| FY2023 | $93,600 | $87,200 | $102,643 | 61 |
| FY2024 | $93,025 | $87,339 | $101,680 | 79 |
| FY2025 | $99,510 | $93,122 | $110,000 | 59 |
| FY2026 | $99,000 | $98,613 | $112,951 | 41 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median mid-level Electrical Engineer salary of $99,000 is worth about $95,600 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 $99,000, 13% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Edison, An Exelon Company | $98,613 | 14 |
| SAI Advanced Power Solutions | too few | 6 |
| Milwaukee Electric Tool | too few | 5 |
| Tech Mahindra | too few | 4 |
| Yaskawa America | too few | 4 |
| Kcs | too few | 3 |
| Quanta Technology | too few | 3 |
| S&C Electric Company | too few | 3 |
| too few | 2 | |
| Fermi Forward Discovery Group | 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.