Makes no sense to want to stay in Chicago and to break into top tech design teams. Come out here, join an agency, build out your portfolio, meet designers and get a referral in. You'll break 150k easy, but lose it all on rent and living expenses (because we designers like nice shit)
As someone in Chicago, I would say the same, move to SF if you want to work at Google/FB.
Appreciate the feedback. Seeing postings for them in Chicago always seemed like long shots.
Are you seeing design jobs posted for Chicago? Amazon, Facebook, and Google all have offices here, but from all of my interviews with them the design jobs required relocation to the West.
Being from Chicago, I would definitely move out here. It is one of the best cities to be in for interaction and UX design. Stay out here for a bit, then if you're feeling Midwest fomo have them transfer you to the Chicago office π
Move to SF.
Have you done some interviews?