Chicago H-1B Filings Reach 11,449 in FY2025, Led by Professional Services and Higher Education

Professional Services Dominate Chicago's H-1B Landscape

Chicago's position as a major business and education hub is reflected in its FY2025 H-1B visa activity, with 11,449 total filings and 10,612 certifications—a robust 92.7% approval rate. The data reveals a metropolitan area heavily reliant on international talent to fill specialized roles across consulting, technology, and academic sectors.

Salary Landscape Shows Wide Variation

The average H-1B salary in Chicago reached $273,725 for FY2025, significantly above the national median and reflecting the city's concentration of high-skilled professional positions. However, this figure masks considerable variation, with salaries ranging from approximately $32,926 to an outlier maximum of $364 million. The wide range likely reflects everything from entry-level academic positions to senior executive roles and potentially data reporting anomalies at the extreme upper end.

When considered against Chicago's cost of living—which remains below coastal tech hubs like San Francisco or New York—the average H-1B salary suggests competitive compensation for international workers, particularly in consulting and technology roles.

Big Four Consulting Firms Lead Hiring

Ernst & Young U.S. LLP dominated Chicago's H-1B landscape with 784 filings, representing nearly 7% of the city's total volume. Deloitte Consulting LLP added another 221 filings, underscoring the Big Four accounting and consulting firms' continued dependence on international talent pipelines.

Academic institutions also featured prominently, with The University of Chicago filing 316 H-1B petitions and Northwestern University contributing 222. These prestigious research universities typically sponsor international researchers, professors, and specialized staff, reflecting Chicago's role as a major center for higher education and research.

Cognizant Technology Solutions rounded out the top five employers with 198 filings, representing the IT services and outsourcing sector's ongoing presence in the market.

Industry Breakdown Reveals Diverse Economy

The NAICS code distribution highlights Chicago's economic diversity. Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511) accounted for 1,531 filings, demonstrating robust technology sector demand. Colleges and Universities (NAICS 611310) contributed 780 filings, while Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512) added 662 petitions.

Management Consulting Services (NAICS 541611) represented 512 filings, further confirming the city's strength in professional services. The top category shows 2,221 filings, though the specific code requires clarification in the source data.

Market Implications

Chicago's H-1B data paints a picture of a diversified economy leveraging international talent across multiple high-value sectors. The strong presence of consulting firms suggests continued investment in business transformation and technology implementation services, while the academic institutions' hiring reflects the city's research and innovation ecosystem.

The high certification rate indicates that Chicago employers are successfully navigating H-1B requirements, likely benefiting from established compliance processes at large institutional employers. For skilled foreign workers, Chicago offers a compelling combination of professional opportunities, competitive salaries, and relatively manageable living costs compared to coastal alternatives.