Validation Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 119 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Schaumburg, Wood Dale, Vernon Hills, Buffalo Grove, Woodridge.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $71,968 |
| 25th | $83,599 |
| 50th (median) | $95,410 |
| 75th | $120,000 |
| 90th | $138,880 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $74,256 | $62,400 | $80,000 | 117 |
| FY2021 | $76,960 | $75,899 | $90,000 | 121 |
| FY2022 | $79,000 | $75,000 | $95,001 | 115 |
| FY2023 | $90,000 | $81,226 | $119,855 | 35 |
| FY2024 | $91,990 | $82,776 | $115,790 | 62 |
| FY2025 | $93,000 | $83,000 | $117,320 | 71 |
| FY2026 | $100,950 | $86,618 | $121,188 | 48 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Validation Engineer salary of $95,410 is worth about $92,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Validation Engineers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $121,910 in May 2025 (1,570 employed). The H-1B median here is $95,410, 22% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Solutions | too few | 6 |
| Tesla | too few | 4 |
| Cyclone Group, P.C. | too few | 3 |
| Mech-Mind | too few | 3 |
| Nest Builders | too few | 3 |
| Northwestern University | too few | 3 |
| Rapyuta Robotics | too few | 3 |
| Reflection Window Company | too few | 3 |
| Resource Innovations | too few | 3 |
| Dober Chemical | 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 | $80,000 | 53 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $95,410 | 35 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,750 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $143,384 | 18 |
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 | $71,968 | $80,000 | 53 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $92,643 | $95,410 | 35 |
| Senior · Level III | $115,981 | $120,750 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $133,973 | $143,384 | 18 |
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.