Entry-level Food Scientist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 19 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Hoffman Estates, Glenview, Naperville, Skokie, Itasca.
Also listed as: Food Technologist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $64,192 |
| 25th | $66,350 |
| 50th (median) | $70,000 |
| 75th | $75,000 |
| 90th | $80,673 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $65,405 | $58,700 | $66,744 | 10 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | $65,000 | $60,899 | $68,423 | 11 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2024 | $68,000 | $63,669 | $69,500 | 10 |
| FY2025 | $70,000 | $67,292 | $73,482 | 11 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 8 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Food Scientist salary of $70,000 is worth about $67,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Food Scientists and Technologists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $100,390 in May 2025 (610 employed). The H-1B median here is $70,000, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| MSI Express | too few | 6 |
| National Pasteurized Eggs | too few | 2 |
| Socius Ingredients | too few | 2 |
| Tate & Lyle Solutions | 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 | $70,000 | 19 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $82,451 | 23 |
| Senior · Level III | $100,880 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,000 | 15 |
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 | $62,962 | $70,000 | 19 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $79,518 | $82,451 | 23 |
| Senior · Level III | $100,880 | $100,880 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $119,309 | $130,000 | 15 |
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.