Entry-level Java Developer salary in Chicago, IL

Based on 36 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Riverwoods, Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove, Skokie, Naperville.

Median salary$85,467
Middle 50%$85.4k–$85.5k
vs. all levels here−20%comparison median $106,800
Filings36FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $74,555 and $101,816.
PercentileSalary
10th$85,363
25th$85,363
50th (median)$85,467
75th$85,500
90th$88,000

Salary by year

Median salary

$60k $80k $100k FY2021: median $92,539 (22 filings) FY2022: median $72,883 (44 filings) FY2023: median $80,850 (11 filings) FY2024: median $82,000 (19 filings) FY2025: median $85,363 (22 filings) FY2026: median $85,467 (14 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 9 filings FY20 FY2021: 22 filings FY21 FY2022: 44 filings FY22 FY2023: 11 filings FY23 FY2024: 19 filings FY24 FY2025: 22 filings FY25 FY2026: 14 filings FY26 44
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–––9
FY2021$92,539$80,885$92,53922
FY2022$72,883$72,883$73,24144
FY2023$80,850$75,983$82,00011
FY2024$82,000$81,872$85,18219
FY2025$85,363$85,363$85,50022
FY2026$85,467$85,467$85,49314

Cost of living

Chicago's median entry-level Java Developer salary of $85,467 is worth about $82,500 at national average prices.

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

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Fuge Technologiestoo few4
Artifint Technologiestoo few2
Blackbuck Insightstoo few2
Ruri Software Technologiestoo few2
Techpro Solutionstoo few2
Valarcorptoo few2
Vitoshatoo few2

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $85,467 36
Mid-level · Level II $108,077 103
Senior · Level III $130,354 28
Expert · Level IV $153,317 13

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.