Entry-level Programmer Analyst salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 64 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Schaumburg, Naperville, Lisle, Riverwoods, Deerfield.
Also listed as: Computer Programmer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,000 |
| 25th | $61,173 |
| 50th (median) | $61,500 |
| 75th | $65,000 |
| 90th | $71,610 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | $71,550 | $62,497 | $72,900 | 20 |
| FY2022 | $73,000 | $72,883 | $75,000 | 27 |
| FY2023 | $65,166 | $65,166 | $75,500 | 15 |
| FY2024 | $62,000 | $59,750 | $66,739 | 32 |
| FY2025 | $61,500 | $61,173 | $65,000 | 49 |
| FY2026 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $65,000 | 15 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Programmer Analyst salary of $61,500 is worth about $59,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Programmers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $99,750 in May 2025 (650 employed). The H-1B median here is $61,500, 38% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Skilltune Technologies | $61,200 | 13 |
| Gp Technologies | too few | 5 |
| Satin Solutions | too few | 5 |
| Unique Computing | too few | 3 |
| Eresources Consultants | too few | 2 |
| Maxil Technology Solutions | too few | 2 |
| Mphasis | too few | 2 |
| Pixelitcenter | too few | 2 |
| Rapid Analytics | too few | 2 |
| Spk Tehnologies | 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 | $61,500 | 64 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $79,706 | 602 |
| Senior · Level III | $98,238 | 151 |
| Expert · Level IV | $125,900 | 63 |
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 | $61,173 | $61,500 | 64 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $79,706 | $79,706 | 602 |
| Senior · Level III | $95,659 | $98,238 | 151 |
| Expert · Level IV | $114,462 | $125,900 | 63 |
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.