Expert Network Administrator salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 53 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $115,157 |
| 25th | $120,182 |
| 50th (median) | $128,100 |
| 75th | $140,000 |
| 90th | $149,260 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $110,654 | $103,928 | $133,100 | 23 |
| FY2021 | $112,153 | $104,749 | $124,000 | 25 |
| FY2022 | $117,300 | $104,749 | $127,500 | 19 |
| FY2023 | $118,438 | $110,469 | $128,652 | 18 |
| FY2024 | $120,600 | $109,221 | $145,150 | 24 |
| FY2025 | $122,200 | $118,612 | $140,888 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $132,165 | $121,000 | $139,292 | 33 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Network Administrator salary of $128,100 is worth about $123,700 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 $128,100, 24% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medline Industries | too few | 7 |
| Cognizant | too few | 3 |
| Ensono | too few | 3 |
| Accenture | too few | 2 |
| Abbott Laboratories | too few | 2 |
| Chicago Transit Authority | too few | 2 |
| Cisco Systems | too few | 2 |
| Denken Solutions | 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 | $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.