Senior Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 31 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $98,925 |
| 25th | $122,575 |
| 50th (median) | $141,000 |
| 75th | $169,125 |
| 90th | $204,557 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $125,000 | $114,908 | $128,151 | 11 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2022 | $123,857 | $119,538 | $150,000 | 17 |
| FY2023 | $124,571 | $121,909 | $124,893 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $108,264 | $95,701 | $139,375 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $132,598 | $113,054 | $165,000 | 22 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median senior Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $141,000 is worth about $136,100 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 $141,000, 4% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | too few | 5 |
| UChicago Argonne | too few | 4 |
| Fermi Forward Discovery Group | too few | 2 |
| Milliman | too few | 2 |
| Motorola Mobility | too few | 2 |
| W.W. Grainger | 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.