Software Developer Salary in Chicago, IL
Updated
The median software developer in the Chicago area earns $134,380 a year ($64.61 an hour), 1% below the U.S. median ($135,980) and 2% above the Illinois median ($132,110). Half of the 40,370 software developers there earn between $104,530 and $167,650.
| Annual pay | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $83,820 | $80,980 | $82,460 |
| 25th percentile | $104,530 | $101,540 | $105,210 |
| Median | $134,380 | $132,110 | $135,980 |
| 75th percentile | $167,650 | $166,420 | $171,980 |
| 90th percentile | $203,410 | $194,740 | $214,670 |
| Average | $141,640 | $136,540 | $148,100 |
| Jobs | 40,370 | 56,310 | 1,687,890 |
Chicago, IL ranks 14th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for software developer pay. Highest: San Jose, CA ($213,110).
Paid less than $134,380? That gap, with its source, is the strongest line in a raise request. Check your pay for your level in 30 seconds. Free, no sign-up.
Check my paySoftware developer pay in other cities
- San Jose, CA: $213,110
- San Francisco, CA: $186,640
- Seattle, WA: $167,280
- New York, NY: $166,830
- Boston, MA: $166,090
- San Diego, CA: $163,270
- Los Angeles, CA: $160,920
- Portland, OR: $156,000
- All cities
Similar jobs in Chicago, IL
- Software QA Tester: $105,580
- Web Developer: $96,870
- IT Support Specialist: $60,730
- Computer Systems Analyst: $103,490
- Network Administrator: $103,170
- Information Security Analyst: $125,310
- All jobs in Chicago, IL
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.