Entry-level Sales Manager salary in Chicago, IL

Based on 10 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Naperville, Wood Dale, Harvey, Arlington Heights, Fox River Grove.

Also listed as: Sales Director

Median salary$87,922
Middle 50%$85.9k–$90k
vs. all levels here−46%comparison median $161,839
Filings10FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $85,862 and $128,360.
PercentileSalary
10th$85,862
25th$85,862
50th (median)$87,922
75th$89,981
90th$99,556

Cost of living

Chicago's median entry-level Sales Manager salary of $87,922 is worth about $84,900 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).

Compared with all workers here

All Sales Managers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $158,690 in May 2025 (25,390 employed). The H-1B median here is $87,922, 45% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
VusionGroup Incorporatedtoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $87,922 10
Mid-level · Level II $135,000 10
Senior · Level III $165,942 11
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$85,862$87,92210
Mid-level · Level II$127,962$135,00010
Senior · Level III$161,678$165,94211

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.