Entry-level Physician salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 28 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Olympia Fields, Evanston, Valparaiso, Park Ridge, Waukegan.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,234 |
| 25th | $78,973 |
| 50th (median) | $84,783 |
| 75th | $260,260 |
| 90th | $294,659 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2023 | $81,692 | $73,353 | $234,000 | 14 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2025 | $90,000 | $77,234 | $294,653 | 17 |
| FY2026 | $82,295 | $79,551 | $86,036 | 11 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Physician salary of $84,783 is worth about $81,800 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 $84,783, 11% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago Medical Center | $79,551 | 17 |
| Sound Physicians of Illinois | too few | 4 |
| Hospitalist Physicians of Illinois, P.C. | 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 | $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.