SOC 17-2031 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers H-1B wage levels in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $121,639. Level III starts at $100,589, Level II at $79,560 and Level I at $58,511.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in Chicago, IL?
For the 2026–27 wage year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), the U.S. Department of Labor sets four H-1B prevailing wage levels for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (SOC 17-2031) in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN wage area: Level I is $58,511 a year, Level II $79,560, Level III $100,589 and Level IV $121,639. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $121,639 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $58,511 up to $79,559 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Chicago, IL has the #65 highest Level IV wage for this job, 5% below the median metro ($128,586). The same $79,560 offer that is Level II here reaches Level III in Fayetteville, AR. These figures apply to the FY 2028 registration in March 2027.
| Wage level | Annual salary at least | Hourly | Lottery entries | DHS projected odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | $58,511 | $28.13 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $79,560 | $38.25 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $100,589 | $48.36 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $121,639 | $58.48 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Chicago, IL
Thresholds here are below the major-metro median, so a given salary earns more entries than in pricier metros.
Where a $79,560 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other Illinois metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in Chicago, IL?
At least $121,639 a year ($58.48/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2031 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Cook County, IL; DeKalb County, IL; DuPage County, IL; Grundy County, IL; Kane County, IL; Kendall County, IL; Lake County, IL; McHenry County, IL; Will County, IL; Jasper County, IN; Lake County, IN; Newton County, IN; Porter County, IN.
Do these numbers apply to the March 2027 registration?
Yes. The FY 2028 registration in March 2027 uses the wage year in effect then, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Learn more: How to legitimately raise your wage level · Lottery level vs. LCA level · FY 2028 registration
Annual salary in U.S. dollars, rounded up. Source: DOL OFLC prevailing wage data, effective July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, computed directly from the DOL file (methodology). Page updated 2026-10-14.