Entry-level QA Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 102 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Schaumburg, Naperville, Deerfield, Aurora, Lisle.
Also listed as: Software Tester, Test Automation Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,520 |
| 25th | $67,308 |
| 50th (median) | $71,427 |
| 75th | $76,688 |
| 90th | $86,900 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $69,754 | $60,500 | $73,895 | 14 |
| FY2021 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $71,074 | 16 |
| FY2022 | $72,883 | $60,000 | $76,250 | 34 |
| FY2023 | $70,360 | $63,731 | $81,320 | 24 |
| FY2024 | $67,340 | $65,582 | $75,000 | 45 |
| FY2025 | $69,630 | $65,520 | $71,696 | 56 |
| FY2026 | $71,427 | $71,427 | $84,226 | 46 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level QA Engineer salary of $71,427 is worth about $68,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $105,580 in May 2025 (5,010 employed). The H-1B median here is $71,427, 32% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Slk America | $69,630 | 11 |
| Arclight Wireless | too few | 8 |
| GlobalLogic | too few | 6 |
| CuneXus Solutions | too few | 4 |
| EdvenSoft Solutions | too few | 4 |
| Ibase Operations | too few | 4 |
| Peterson Technology Partners | too few | 3 |
| Cerner Technologies | too few | 2 |
| Cloud360 | too few | 2 |
| Midwestern IT | 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 | $71,427 | 102 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $88,088 | 584 |
| Senior · Level III | $104,728 | 291 |
| Expert · Level IV | $125,074 | 218 |
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 | $71,427 | $71,427 | 102 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $82,368 | $88,088 | 584 |
| Senior · Level III | $104,728 | $104,728 | 291 |
| Expert · Level IV | $121,389 | $125,074 | 218 |
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.