Graphic Designer salary in Chicago, IL

Based on 54 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Riverwoods, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Northbrook, Elk Grove Village.

Median salary$66,747
Middle 50%$55.7k–$84.3k
vs. national median−36%comparison median $105,000
Filings54FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $43,155 and $222,508.
PercentileSalary
10th$48,576
25th$55,715
50th (median)$66,747
75th$84,250
90th$120,000

Salary by year

Median salary

$50k $70k $90k FY2020: median $60,000 (21 filings) FY2021: median $77,500 (32 filings) FY2022: median $75,000 (33 filings) FY2023: median $72,000 (27 filings) FY2024: median $66,625 (38 filings) FY2025: median $70,000 (32 filings) FY2026: median $65,874 (22 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 21 filings FY20 FY2021: 32 filings FY21 FY2022: 33 filings FY22 FY2023: 27 filings FY23 FY2024: 38 filings FY24 FY2025: 32 filings FY25 FY2026: 22 filings FY26 38
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$60,000$49,000$70,00021
FY2021$77,500$60,989$114,75032
FY2022$75,000$52,000$118,00033
FY2023$72,000$60,000$99,82527
FY2024$66,625$56,250$89,15438
FY2025$70,000$53,750$101,82632
FY2026$65,874$58,125$67,93822

Cost of living

Chicago's median Graphic Designer salary of $66,747 is worth about $64,400 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).

Compared with all workers here

All Graphic Designers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $66,490 in May 2025 (6,590 employed). The H-1B median here is $66,747, 0% higher.

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

EmployerMedianFilings
Cognizant$66,74710
Ehomie Chicagotoo few2
Expediatoo few2
Kettle Solutionstoo few2
Piazza Italiatoo few2
Spotifytoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $47,920 10
Mid-level · Level II $62,400 21
Senior · Level III $66,747 12
Expert · Level IV $119,676 11

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$42,203$47,92010
Mid-level · Level II$52,541$62,40021
Senior · Level III$66,747$66,74712
Expert · Level IV$78,187$119,67611

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.