Entry-level Lawyer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 58 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Rolling Meadows, Rosemont, Suite 1800, Warrenville, Wheaton.
Also listed as: Attorney, Associate Lawyer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $87,000 |
| 25th | $87,692 |
| 50th (median) | $100,000 |
| 75th | $198,751 |
| 90th | $225,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $78,998 | $71,594 | $102,500 | 14 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | $87,500 | $76,912 | $106,840 | 16 |
| FY2023 | $90,000 | $72,093 | $140,000 | 11 |
| FY2024 | $85,000 | $79,269 | $110,000 | 29 |
| FY2025 | $100,000 | $87,750 | $165,001 | 32 |
| FY2026 | $107,500 | $88,192 | $220,000 | 26 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Lawyer salary of $100,000 is worth about $96,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Lawyers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $165,660 in May 2025 (28,320 employed). The H-1B median here is $100,000, 40% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Z. Wang & Associates, P.C. | too few | 8 |
| Sidley Austin (US) | too few | 5 |
| Latham & Watkins | too few | 3 |
| Paul Hastings | too few | 3 |
| Children's Legal Center | too few | 2 |
| Mandarich Law Group | too few | 2 |
| P&M Law Firm | too few | 2 |
| Pacston | 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 | $100,000 | 58 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $186,393 | 26 |
| Senior · Level III | $227,500 | 26 |
| Expert · Level IV | $300,000 | 14 |
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 | $87,589 | $100,000 | 58 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $136,677 | $186,393 | 26 |
| Senior · Level III | $185,786 | $227,500 | 26 |
| Expert · Level IV | $234,874 | $300,000 | 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.