Entry-level Regulatory Affairs Specialist salary in Chicago, IL

Based on 12 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes North Chicago, Waukegan, Libertyville, Northfield, Harvey.

Also listed as: Compliance Specialist

Median salary$55,630
Middle 50%$53.6k–$58.5k
vs. all levels here−39%comparison median $91,000
Filings12FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $53,560 and $66,721.
PercentileSalary
10th$53,560
25th$53,560
50th (median)$55,630
75th$58,500
90th$65,963

Cost of living

Chicago's median entry-level Regulatory Affairs Specialist salary of $55,630 is worth about $53,700 at national average prices.

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

Compared with all workers here

All Regulatory Affairs Specialists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $82,020 in May 2025 (8,320 employed). The H-1B median here is $55,630, 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

EmployerMedianFilings
Langdon Partnerstoo few2
Wall Street Consulting Servicestoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $55,630 12
Mid-level · Level II $80,038 30
Senior · Level III $92,500 18
Expert · Level IV $107,900 16

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$53,560$55,63012
Mid-level · Level II$68,848$80,03830
Senior · Level III$88,150$92,50018
Expert · Level IV$104,083$107,90016

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.