Entry-level Physicist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 87 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Batavia, Lemont, Evanston, Park Ridge, Downers Grove.
Also listed as: Medical Physicist, Assistant Physicist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,403 |
| 25th | $66,700 |
| 50th (median) | $70,758 |
| 75th | $77,126 |
| 90th | $79,304 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $61,492 | $60,075 | $67,636 | 38 |
| FY2021 | $62,400 | $59,397 | $67,323 | 40 |
| FY2022 | $63,213 | $60,549 | $67,142 | 55 |
| FY2023 | $65,000 | $63,852 | $65,742 | 57 |
| FY2024 | $66,700 | $62,091 | $68,371 | 50 |
| FY2025 | $68,000 | $66,700 | $75,800 | 68 |
| FY2026 | $77,126 | $77,126 | $79,305 | 19 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Physicist salary of $70,758 is worth about $68,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Physicists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $137,140 in May 2025 (1,510 employed). The H-1B median here is $70,758, 48% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fermi Forward Discovery Group | $66,706 | 35 |
| UChicago Argonne | $70,758 | 12 |
| Northwestern University | too few | 7 |
| The University of Chicago | too few | 7 |
| University of Chicago | too few | 5 |
| Fermi Research Alliance | too few | 4 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | too few | 2 |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | too few | 2 |
| Trustees Of Boston University | 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 | $70,758 | 87 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $99,362 | 45 |
| Senior · Level III | $115,770 | 12 |
| Expert · Level IV | $155,300 | 12 |
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 | $47,258 | $70,758 | 87 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $99,362 | $99,362 | 45 |
| Senior · Level III | $97,448 | $115,770 | 12 |
| Expert · Level IV | $122,554 | $155,300 | 12 |
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.