Entry-level Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 23 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Arlington Heights, North Chicago, Mettawa, Skokie, Deerfield.
Also listed as: Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Manager
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,182 |
| 25th | $68,182 |
| 50th (median) | $79,539 |
| 75th | $86,500 |
| 90th | $110,690 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 2 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2022 | $68,384 | $63,513 | $97,058 | 18 |
| FY2023 | $67,000 | $66,768 | $80,000 | 13 |
| FY2024 | $65,000 | $58,885 | $68,182 | 13 |
| FY2025 | $73,764 | $68,182 | $84,750 | 20 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 3 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary of $79,539 is worth about $76,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Natural Sciences Managers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $167,040 in May 2025 (2,270 employed). The H-1B median here is $79,539, 52% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | too few | 6 |
| Northwestern University | too few | 3 |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago | too few | 2 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | too few | 2 |
| Nature's Fynd | too few | 2 |
| University of Illinois 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 | $79,539 | 23 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 4 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 3 |
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 | $68,182 | $79,539 | 23 |
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.