Entry-level Validation Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 53 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $72,000 |
| 50th (median) | $80,000 |
| 75th | $87,338 |
| 90th | $108,840 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $59,921 | $57,533 | $65,000 | 46 |
| FY2021 | $68,640 | $60,000 | $73,000 | 25 |
| FY2022 | $62,317 | $59,749 | $72,200 | 32 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2024 | $70,304 | $65,021 | $80,250 | 18 |
| FY2025 | $80,000 | $71,968 | $86,605 | 32 |
| FY2026 | $83,000 | $75,000 | $105,000 | 21 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Validation Engineer salary of $80,000 is worth about $77,200 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 $80,000, 34% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Solutions | too few | 6 |
| Cyclone Group, P.C. | too few | 3 |
| Mech-Mind | too few | 3 |
| Nest Builders | too few | 3 |
| Northwestern University | too few | 3 |
| Reflection Window Company | too few | 3 |
| Dober Chemical | too few | 2 |
| Fermi Forward Discovery Group | too few | 2 |
| Interlake Mecalux | too few | 2 |
| Rapyuta Robotics | 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.