Network Administrator salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 364 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Schaumburg, Naperville, Aurora, Northbrook, Waukegan.
Also listed as: Systems Administrator
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,601 |
| 25th | $82,659 |
| 50th (median) | $87,000 |
| 75th | $104,849 |
| 90th | $131,320 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $76,241 | $73,341 | $88,773 | 226 |
| FY2021 | $78,520 | $74,547 | $101,750 | 169 |
| FY2022 | $85,000 | $76,898 | $95,493 | 149 |
| FY2023 | $81,352 | $80,134 | $97,228 | 150 |
| FY2024 | $82,950 | $77,584 | $106,821 | 178 |
| FY2025 | $87,000 | $82,659 | $104,780 | 199 |
| FY2026 | $87,167 | $86,486 | $108,000 | 165 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Network Administrator salary of $87,000 is worth about $84,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Network and Computer Systems Administrators in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $103,170 in May 2025 (6,950 employed). The H-1B median here is $87,000, 16% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $103,334 | 30 |
| Medline Industries | $135,000 | 17 |
| Cisco Systems | $108,450 | 16 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | $82,659 | 13 |
| Neosis It Solutions | $82,659 | 10 |
| Infosys | too few | 7 |
| Accenture | too few | 6 |
| Wipro | too few | 5 |
| Origin Hubs | too few | 5 |
| Vyzer Solutions | too few | 5 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $69,638 | 44 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $86,486 | 185 |
| Senior · Level III | $103,334 | 79 |
| Expert · Level IV | $128,100 | 53 |
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 | $69,638 | $69,638 | 44 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $82,659 | $86,486 | 185 |
| Senior · Level III | $103,334 | $103,334 | 79 |
| Expert · Level IV | $120,182 | $128,100 | 53 |
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.