Expert Industrial Designer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Hoffman Estates, Evanston, Mokena, Oak Brook, Wheaton.
Also listed as: Technical Designer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $80,829 |
| 25th | $86,237 |
| 50th (median) | $99,131 |
| 75th | $139,500 |
| 90th | $149,994 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Industrial Designer salary of $99,131 is worth about $95,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Commercial and Industrial Designers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $112,950 in May 2025 (420 employed). The H-1B median here is $99,131, 12% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Motorola Solutions | too few | 3 |
| Cognizant | too few | 2 |
| Salesforce | too few | 2 |
| Vistex | 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 | too few | 2 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $73,300 | 30 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 4 |
| Expert · Level IV | $99,131 | 13 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $61,298 | $73,300 | 30 |
| Expert · Level IV | $80,829 | $99,131 | 13 |
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.