Expert Lawyer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 14 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $234,874 |
| 25th | $234,906 |
| 50th (median) | $300,000 |
| 75th | $396,250 |
| 90th | $432,852 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Lawyer salary of $300,000 is worth about $289,600 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 $300,000, 81% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mayer Brown | too few | 3 |
| Levenfeld Pearlstein | too few | 2 |
| Norton Rose Fulbright | 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.