Expert Programmer Analyst salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 63 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $114,500 |
| 25th | $114,750 |
| 50th (median) | $125,900 |
| 75th | $143,350 |
| 90th | $160,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2023 | $125,000 | $124,883 | $125,900 | 11 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2025 | $125,900 | $116,793 | $145,750 | 36 |
| FY2026 | $122,100 | $114,500 | $137,616 | 27 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Programmer Analyst salary of $125,900 is worth about $121,500 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 $125,900, 26% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Skilltune Technologies | $116,800 | 12 |
| Accenture | $155,000 | 10 |
| Aspire Systems Digital Transformation | too few | 6 |
| Egen Solutions | too few | 4 |
| Gp Technologies | too few | 3 |
| Htc Global Services | too few | 3 |
| Satin Solutions | too few | 3 |
| Ensono | 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.