Physician salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 213 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Olympia Fields, Evanston, Valparaiso, Park Ridge, Waukegan.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $66,647 |
| 25th | $75,205 |
| 50th (median) | $88,003 |
| 75th | $260,000 |
| 90th | $294,669 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $80,200 | $61,755 | $230,000 | 82 |
| FY2021 | $79,327 | $62,990 | $244,854 | 109 |
| FY2022 | $100,000 | $67,975 | $248,000 | 89 |
| FY2023 | $83,215 | $70,503 | $249,600 | 87 |
| FY2024 | $90,082 | $76,713 | $249,800 | 91 |
| FY2025 | $87,376 | $70,929 | $265,000 | 144 |
| FY2026 | $89,776 | $78,973 | $240,000 | 69 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Physician salary of $88,003 is worth about $84,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Physicians, All Other in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $94,820 in May 2025 (16,950 employed). The H-1B median here is $88,003, 7% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County Health | $67,635 | 64 |
| University of Chicago Medical Center | $83,530 | 30 |
| McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University | $90,082 | 15 |
| The Mount Sinai Community Foundation | $285,000 | 14 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | $85,507 | 14 |
| McGaw Medical Center | $90,082 | 11 |
| Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation | too few | 8 |
| Rush Medical Group | too few | 5 |
| Advocate Health and Hospitals | too few | 4 |
| Sound Physicians of Illinois | too few | 4 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $84,783 | 28 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $247,500 | 44 |
| Senior · Level III | $243,194 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | $285,000 | 25 |
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 | $64,958 | $84,783 | 28 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $78,021 | $247,500 | 44 |
| Senior · Level III | $226,387 | $243,194 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | $262,725 | $285,000 | 25 |
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.