Microbiologist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 18 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Skokie, Lemont, Bedford Park, North Chicago, Warrenville.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $61,621 |
| 25th | $66,218 |
| 50th (median) | $82,797 |
| 75th | $99,750 |
| 90th | $117,700 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2021 | $58,598 | $51,250 | $61,827 | 10 |
| FY2022 | $57,162 | $54,765 | $70,000 | 16 |
| FY2023 | $68,084 | $57,852 | $77,000 | 12 |
| FY2024 | $61,572 | $58,017 | $72,715 | 11 |
| FY2025 | $87,500 | $63,421 | $115,000 | 11 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 7 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Microbiologist salary of $82,797 is worth about $79,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Microbiologists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $100,620 in May 2025 (1,240 employed). The H-1B median here is $82,797, 18% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | too few | 9 |
| LanzaTech | 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 | 3 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 6 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.