Entry-level Systems Engineer salary in Chicago, IL

Based on 15 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oak Brook, Naperville, Lisle, Rosemont, Wood Dale.

Median salary$85,467
Middle 50%$72.6k–$87.4k
vs. all levels here−15%comparison median $100,000
Filings15FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $45,359 and $98,384.
PercentileSalary
10th$63,269
25th$72,600
50th (median)$85,467
75th$87,377
90th$95,430

Cost of living

Chicago's median entry-level Systems Engineer salary of $85,467 is worth about $82,500 at national average prices.

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

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Career Quench Technologiestoo few2
DePaul Universitytoo few2
Dyvicctoo few2
Epitectoo few2
Machine Intelligencetoo few2
Motorola Solutionstoo few2

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $85,467 15
Mid-level · Level II $97,406 45
Senior · Level III $123,000 25
Expert · Level IV too few 2

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.