Research Assistant (Social Science) salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 25 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Evanston, Hazel Crest, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Northbrook.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $42,289 |
| 25th | $50,000 |
| 50th (median) | $61,000 |
| 75th | $72,000 |
| 90th | $82,769 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $53,000 | $48,738 | $62,569 | 11 |
| FY2021 | $52,000 | $46,779 | $70,855 | 15 |
| FY2022 | $60,000 | $52,072 | $64,500 | 11 |
| FY2023 | $67,677 | $47,931 | $75,000 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $66,463 | $53,960 | $75,710 | 20 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2026 | $61,000 | $57,500 | $73,795 | 16 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Research Assistant (Social Science) salary of $61,000 is worth about $58,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Social Science Research Assistants in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $64,890 in May 2025 (170 employed). The H-1B median here is $61,000, 6% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Apex Medical Research, AMR | too few | 3 |
| Chicago Medical Research | too few | 3 |
| Northwestern University | too few | 3 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | too few | 3 |
| Avicenna Clinical Research | too few | 2 |
| The University of Chicago | 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 4 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.