Software Developers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $83,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $203,410 or more. The middle half of software developers in Chicago earn between $104,530 and $167,650.
- $84K10th
- $105K25th
- $134KMedian
- $168K75th
- $203K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $141,640 | $11,803 | $68.10 |
| Median | $134,380 | $11,198 | $64.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $104,530 | $8,711 | $50.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $167,650 | $13,971 | $80.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Software Developers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Software developers in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($136,540) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($148,100). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $135,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $141,640 | $134,380 | $83,820 | $203,410 | 40,370 |
| Illinois | $136,540 | $132,110 | $80,980 | $194,740 | 56,310 |
| United States | $148,100 | $135,980 | $82,460 | $214,670 | 1,687,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Software Developers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $141,640, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $101,207 a year, or $8,434 a month and $3,893 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 | $103,858 | $8,655 |
| Working in IL | $101,207 | $8,434 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for software developers? 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 $141,640 buys what about $136,725 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Software Developers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$141,640
- Peoria$129,350
- Bloomington$129,190
- Springfield$115,900
- Kankakee$115,700
- Rockford$115,370
- Champaign$114,930
- Decatur$113,920
Highest-paying cities for software developers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($221,710).
- San Jose, CA$221,710
- San Francisco, CA$193,430
- Seattle, WA$174,920
- Oxnard, CA$174,020
- Boulder, CO$166,480
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Software Developers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do software developers make an hour in Chicago?
$68.10 an hour on average, and $64.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level software developers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $83,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $104,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the software developers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $101,207 a year ($8,434 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $141,640.
Do software developers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($148,100).
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 15-1252; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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