Entry-level HR Specialist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 15 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Naperville, Hoffman Estates, Roselle, Hodgkins, Elk Grove Village.
Also listed as: Recruiter
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $49,109 |
| 25th | $49,109 |
| 50th (median) | $51,917 |
| 75th | $52,350 |
| 90th | $54,840 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level HR Specialist salary of $51,917 is worth about $50,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Human Resources Specialists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $78,210 in May 2025 (26,470 employed). The H-1B median here is $51,917, 34% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Geval6 | too few | 3 |
| Max Care Home Health Services | 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 | $51,917 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $67,750 | 14 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 4 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
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 | $49,109 | $51,917 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $65,354 | $67,750 | 14 |
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.