How much does a computer programmer make in Chicago?
$99,750a year
Median yearly pay for computer programmers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $47.96 an hour or $8,313 a month.
- Hourly
- $47.96
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 77 of 207
- Jobs in the area
- 650
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $62,830Median: $99,750Highest 10%: $152,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,830 | $30.21 | |
| 25th | $66,710 | $32.07 | |
| Median | $99,750 | $47.96 | |
| 75th | $131,600 | $63.26 | |
| 90th | $152,900 | $73.53 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for computer programmers.
| St. Louis, MO | $96,920 |
| Champaign, IL | $89,380 |
| Springfield, IL | $61,160 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Database Architect | $147,500 |
| Computer Network Architect | $143,800 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientist | $135,600 |
| Software Developer | $134,400 |
| Mathematician | $131,000 |
| Information Security Analyst | $125,300 |
| Statistician | $122,200 |
| Actuary | $113,700 |
| Database Administrator | $109,700 |
| Data Scientist | $107,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $47.96 ($99,750 a year).
Do computer programmers make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $99,750 against $100,400 nationally, 1% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $72,540, so Chicago pays 38% more.
Where does Chicago rank for computer programmer pay?
77 of 207 metro areas with data.
How much does a computer programmer make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $62,830 or less a year; the top 10% make $152,900 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.