Mid-level HR Specialist salary in Chicago, IL

Based on 14 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Naperville, Hoffman Estates, Roselle, Hodgkins, Elk Grove Village.

Also listed as: Recruiter

Median salary$67,750
Middle 50%$65.1k–$73.5k
vs. all levels here−3%comparison median $70,000
Filings14FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $57,675 and $88,050.
PercentileSalary
10th$62,874
25th$65,089
50th (median)$67,750
75th$73,500
90th$74,700

Cost of living

Chicago's median mid-level HR Specialist salary of $67,750 is worth about $65,400 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 $67,750, 13% 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
Weee!too few2
Zlliustoo few2

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
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 levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$49,109$51,91715
Mid-level · Level II$65,354$67,75014

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.