Entry-level Foreign Language Professor salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Evanston, River Forest, Valparaiso.
Also listed as: Foreign Language Instructor, Assistant Professor of Spanish
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,950 |
| 25th | $67,250 |
| 50th (median) | $68,500 |
| 75th | $70,000 |
| 90th | $72,000 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Foreign Language Professor salary of $68,500 is worth about $66,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $80,940 in May 2025 (490 employed). The H-1B median here is $68,500, 15% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | too few | 9 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $68,500 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 | $52,130 | $68,500 | 11 |
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.