Entry-level Project Manager salary in Chicago, IL

Based on 29 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Riverwoods, Franklin Park, North Chicago, Schaumburg, Plainfield.

Also listed as: Project Management Specialist, Project Coordinator

Median salary$69,000

Middle 50%$65k–$72k

vs. all levels here−38%comparison median $111,530

Filings29FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

All levels here

$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k$130k

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $63,898 and $101,919.

Percentile	Salary
10th	$63,898
25th	$65,000
50th (median)	$69,000
75th	$71,982
90th	$80,640

Salary by year

Median salary

Filings per year

Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.

Show as table

Fiscal year	Median	P25	P75	Filings
FY2020	–	–	–	0
FY2021	–	–	–	0
FY2022	–	–	–	2
FY2023	–	–	–	7
FY2024	$65,000	$61,859	$80,000	15
FY2025	$66,000	$63,975	$70,925	16
FY2026	$69,000	$68,203	$72,500	13

Cost of living

Chicago's median entry-level Project Manager salary of $69,000 is worth about $66,600 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).

Compared with all workers here

All Project Management Specialists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $105,320 in May 2025 (21,040 employed). The H-1B median here is $69,000, 34% 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
Kameli Law P.C.	too few	2
STV Construction	too few	2
Sumit Construction	too few	2
Wanxiang America	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	$69,000	29
Mid-level · Level II	$89,856	69
Senior · Level III	$115,300	40
Expert · Level IV	$139,595	81

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	$63,898	$69,000	29
Mid-level · Level II	$89,856	$89,856	69
Senior · Level III	$111,530	$115,300	40
Expert · Level IV	$133,182	$139,595	81

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.