Mid-level Operations Research Analyst salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 267 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Riverwoods, Evanston, Schaumburg, Naperville, Northbrook.
Also listed as: Data Analyst
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $85,904 |
| 25th | $87,464 |
| 50th (median) | $100,000 |
| 75th | $142,500 |
| 90th | $185,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $80,300 | $80,000 | $110,000 | 497 |
| FY2021 | $92,200 | $80,000 | $122,000 | 209 |
| FY2022 | $103,769 | $80,400 | $134,820 | 286 |
| FY2023 | $99,750 | $82,670 | $145,000 | 198 |
| FY2024 | $130,000 | $90,602 | $190,000 | 212 |
| FY2025 | $102,000 | $88,000 | $140,000 | 157 |
| FY2026 | $99,850 | $86,000 | $144,755 | 110 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median mid-level Operations Research Analyst 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 Operations Research Analysts in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $86,500 in May 2025 (3,680 employed). The H-1B median here is $100,000, 16% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| PwC | $186,000 | 36 |
| Deloitte | $87,464 | 28 |
| EY | $168,500 | 12 |
| Tiger Analytics | $135,000 | 12 |
| Medline Industries | $96,527 | 11 |
| Discover Products | $89,635 | 10 |
| Citadel Americas Services | too few | 6 |
| Bank of America | too few | 5 |
| Health Care Service | too few | 5 |
| ZS Associates | 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 | $75,000 | 111 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,000 | 267 |
| Senior · Level III | $126,236 | 134 |
| Expert · Level IV | $155,000 | 127 |
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 | $66,706 | $75,000 | 111 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,904 | $100,000 | 267 |
| Senior · Level III | $105,893 | $126,236 | 134 |
| Expert · Level IV | $124,301 | $155,000 | 127 |
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.