Mid-level Regulatory Affairs Specialist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 30 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes North Chicago, Waukegan, Libertyville, Northfield, Harvey.
Also listed as: Compliance Specialist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,848 |
| 25th | $72,314 |
| 50th (median) | $80,038 |
| 75th | $99,500 |
| 90th | $113,078 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $72,800 | $64,550 | $81,250 | 12 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | $80,000 | $68,515 | $93,500 | 12 |
| FY2023 | $68,000 | $64,106 | $69,726 | 11 |
| FY2024 | $72,873 | $69,451 | $78,500 | 16 |
| FY2025 | $90,000 | $68,848 | $100,000 | 17 |
| FY2026 | $75,000 | $72,600 | $98,000 | 13 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median mid-level Regulatory Affairs Specialist salary of $80,038 is worth about $77,300 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 $80,038, 2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AbbVie | too few | 4 |
| Kashiv BioSciences | too few | 2 |
| ONEUS Technologies | too few | 2 |
| Zimmer | 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 | $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 level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $53,560 | $55,630 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $68,848 | $80,038 | 30 |
| Senior · Level III | $88,150 | $92,500 | 18 |
| Expert · Level IV | $104,083 | $107,900 | 16 |
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.