Mid-level Graphic Designer salary in Chicago, IL

Based on 21 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Riverwoods, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Northbrook, Elk Grove Village.

Median salary$62,400
Middle 50%$57k–$85k
vs. all levels here−7%comparison median $66,747
Filings21FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $52,541 and $118,696.
PercentileSalary
10th$54,000
25th$57,000
50th (median)$62,400
75th$85,000
90th$106,400

Salary by year

Median salary

$40k $65k $90k FY2021: median $70,000 (18 filings) FY2022: median $54,000 (13 filings) FY2023: median $65,250 (12 filings) FY2024: median $75,000 (13 filings) FY2025: median $82,000 (13 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 6 filings FY20 FY2021: 18 filings FY21 FY2022: 13 filings FY22 FY2023: 12 filings FY23 FY2024: 13 filings FY24 FY2025: 13 filings FY25 FY2026: 8 filings FY26 18
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–––6
FY2021$70,000$60,000$117,87518
FY2022$54,000$51,500$118,30013
FY2023$65,250$54,500$112,67512
FY2024$75,000$60,000$106,20013
FY2025$82,000$57,000$100,70013
FY2026–––8

Cost of living

Chicago's median mid-level Graphic Designer salary of $62,400 is worth about $60,200 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 $62,400, 6% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
Cognizanttoo 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.