Chicago, IL H-1B salaries — 104,658 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 9,235
- Filings · FY2025
- $113k
- Median base · FY2025
- $88k–$149k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Ernst Young U.S. LLP
- Top sponsor · 5,663 all-time
Employers in Chicago, IL have 104,658 certified H-1B LCAs on record since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $113k across 9,235 filings, with the middle 50% between $88k and $149k. The biggest sponsors are Ernst Young U.S. LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Capgemini America; the most-sponsored titles are Software Engineer, Software Developer, Manager.
How much do H-1B workers in Chicago, IL make?
Certified base salary by fiscal year: each box is the p25–p75 range, the heavy line the median, the whiskers reach p10–p90. $113k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has H-1B hiring in Chicago, IL changed?
10,124 certified filings in FY2016 → 6,695 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 6,695 | −28% | $118k |
| FY2025 | 9,235 | +8% | $113k |
| FY2024 | 8,550 | +1% | $109k |
| FY2023 | 8,480 | −14% | $106k |
| FY2022 | 9,855 | +14% | $103k |
| FY2021 | 8,622 | −17% | $96k |
| FY2020 | 10,449 | −11% | $90k |
| FY2019 | 11,785 | +7% | $82k |
| FY2018 | 11,034 | +12% | $83k |
| FY2017 | 9,829 | −3% | $75k |
| FY2016 | 10,124 | — | $71k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B workers in Chicago, IL?
The employers with the most certified filings, all years, with their median base salary. Open any employer for its full profile.
| # | Employer | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ernst Young U.S. LLP | 5,663 | $119k |
| 2 | Deloitte Consulting LLP | 3,689 | $96k |
| 3 | Capgemini America | 3,026 | $87k |
| 4 | Tata Consultancy Services | 2,781 | $73k |
| 5 | Infosys | 2,432 | $78k |
| 6 | Cognizant Technology Solutions US | 2,371 | $82k |
| 7 | The University of Chicago | 1,781 | $70k |
| 8 | Accenture LLP | 1,675 | $95k |
| 9 | Pricewaterhousecoopers Advisory Services | 1,614 | $128k |
| 10 | University of Illinois at Chicago | 1,042 | $70k |
What H-1B jobs get sponsored in Chicago, IL?
The most-filed job titles on certified LCAs in this city, all years (DOL titles, pay-grade codes stripped).
| # | Job title | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Engineer | 3,268 | $93k |
| 2 | Software Developer | 3,142 | $88k |
| 3 | Manager | 2,058 | $108k |
| 4 | Consultant | 1,517 | $83k |
| 5 | Developer | 1,294 | $68k |
| 6 | Senior Consultant | 1,286 | $92k |
| 7 | Senior Software Engineer | 1,272 | $115k |
| 8 | Analyst | 1,041 | $76k |
| 9 | Programmer Analyst | 973 | $65k |
| 10 | Senior Systems Analyst | 877 | $75k |
Common questions about H-1B jobs in Chicago, IL
- What is the median H-1B salary in Chicago, IL?
- The median certified H-1B base salary in Chicago, IL is $113k (FY2025), from 9,235 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $75k and $122k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B workers in Chicago, IL?
- The top H-1B sponsors in Chicago, IL are Ernst Young U.S. LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Capgemini America.
- What are the most common H-1B jobs in Chicago, IL?
- The most-sponsored H-1B roles in Chicago, IL are Software Engineer, Software Developer, Manager.
- Does a certified LCA mean an H-1B visa was approved?
- No. A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is the Department of Labor attestation an employer must have certified before filing an H-1B petition with USCIS. It records the job, worksite and offered wage, but not whether the petition was filed, selected in the lottery, or approved. Filing counts measure intent to sponsor, not headcount.
- What salary do these figures show?
- The base annual wage offered on the certified LCA, converted to a yearly amount. Bonus, equity, overtime and benefits are not included, so total compensation is typically higher. Figures are medians and percentiles over certified filings; wages above $5,000,000 a year are excluded as data-entry errors.
- What does the fiscal year mean here?
- Years are U.S. government fiscal years, October to September: FY2025 runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. This matches how the Department of Labor publishes the disclosure files. The most recent year may be partial until its final quarter is released.
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Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification — certified LCA disclosure data through June 2026 (FY2016–FY2026). An LCA is not an approved visa; pay figures are base salary and exclude bonus and equity. Methodology →