SOC 17-2141 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Mechanical Engineers H-1B wage levels in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $126,943. Level III starts at $109,388, Level II at $91,853 and Level I at $74,298.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Mechanical 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 Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN wage area: Level I is $74,298 a year, Level II $91,853, Level III $109,388 and Level IV $126,943. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $126,943 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $74,298 up to $91,852 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 #43 highest Level IV wage for this job, 2% above the median metro ($124,904). The same $91,853 offer that is Level II here reaches Level III in College Station, TX. 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 | $74,298 | $35.72 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $91,853 | $44.16 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $109,388 | $52.59 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $126,943 | $61.03 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Chicago, IL
Thresholds here are above the major-metro median, so you need a bigger salary for the same number of entries.
Where a $91,853 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 Mechanical Engineers in Chicago, IL?
At least $126,943 a year ($61.03/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2141 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.
Mechanical 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.