Entry-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 26 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Lemont, Evanston, Batavia, Lake Forest, Lombard.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,483 |
| 25th | $68,968 |
| 50th (median) | $72,879 |
| 75th | $85,917 |
| 90th | $100,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $87,410 | $75,796 | $92,500 | 18 |
| FY2021 | $85,176 | $85,176 | $87,601 | 15 |
| FY2022 | $100,000 | $85,130 | $101,700 | 11 |
| FY2023 | $90,230 | $90,230 | $98,000 | 13 |
| FY2024 | $87,194 | $68,371 | $141,000 | 18 |
| FY2025 | $76,627 | $70,758 | $93,808 | 14 |
| FY2026 | $72,879 | $60,724 | $72,879 | 12 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $72,879 is worth about $70,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer and Information Research Scientists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $135,630 in May 2025 (490 employed). The H-1B median here is $72,879, 46% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UChicago Argonne | $71,819 | 10 |
| Northwestern University | too few | 3 |
| The University of Chicago | too few | 3 |
| Fermi Forward Discovery Group | too few | 2 |
| Reveal Data | too few | 2 |
| Visint | 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 | $72,879 | 26 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $105,123 | 45 |
| Senior · Level III | $141,000 | 31 |
| Expert · Level IV | $170,320 | 27 |
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 | $59,634 | $72,879 | 26 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $79,934 | $105,123 | 45 |
| Senior · Level III | $122,450 | $141,000 | 31 |
| Expert · Level IV | $139,797 | $170,320 | 27 |
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.