Computer Programmers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $152,940 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in Chicago earn between $66,710 and $131,590.
- $63K10th
- $67K25th
- $100KMedian
- $132K75th
- $153K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $103,330 | $8,611 | $49.68 |
| Median | $99,750 | $8,312 | $47.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,710 | $5,559 | $32.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $131,590 | $10,966 | $63.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Programmers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Computer programmers in Chicago earn 18% more than the Illinois average ($87,660) and about the same as the U.S. average ($105,170). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $100,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $103,330 | $99,750 | $62,830 | $152,940 | 650 |
| Illinois | $87,660 | $72,540 | $50,640 | $142,410 | 1,280 |
| United States | $105,170 | $100,390 | $57,710 | $160,460 | 92,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $103,330, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $76,549 a year, or $6,379 a month and $2,944 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $78,453 | $6,538 |
| Working in IL | $76,549 | $6,379 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for computer programmers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $103,330 buys what about $99,744 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$103,330
- Champaign$98,760
- Springfield$71,250
Highest-paying cities for computer programmers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,780).
- San Jose, CA$150,780
- Boulder, CO$139,840
- Portland, ME$138,860
- Fayetteville, AR$130,080
- San Diego, CA$129,530
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Computer Programmers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in Chicago?
$49.68 an hour on average, and $47.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $76,549 a year ($6,379 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $103,330.
Do computer programmers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($105,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1251; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.24, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.24).
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