How much does a software developer make in Chicago?
$134,400a year
Median yearly pay for software developers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $64.61 an hour or $11,200 a month.
- Hourly
- $64.61
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 33 of 377
- Jobs in the area
- 40,370
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $83,820Median: $134,400Highest 10%: $203,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,820 | $40.30 | |
| 25th | $104,500 | $50.25 | |
| Median | $134,400 | $64.61 | |
| 75th | $167,700 | $80.60 | |
| 90th | $203,400 | $97.79 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for software developers.
| Peoria, IL | $130,600 |
| St. Louis, MO | $129,000 |
| Bloomington, IL | $123,300 |
| Kankakee, IL | $116,600 |
| Davenport, IA | $115,800 |
| Decatur, IL | $110,300 |
| Rockford, IL | $107,600 |
| Champaign, IL | $106,100 |
| Springfield, IL | $104,600 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $100,200 |
| Paducah, KY | $99,260 |
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 |
| Mathematician | $131,000 |
| Information Security Analyst | $125,300 |
| Statistician | $122,200 |
| Actuary | $113,700 |
| Database Administrator | $109,700 |
| Data Scientist | $107,600 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester | $105,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $64.61 ($134,400 a year).
Do software developers make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $134,400 against $136,000 nationally, 1% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $132,100, so Chicago pays 2% more.
Where does Chicago rank for software developer pay?
33 of 377 metro areas with data.
How much does a software developer make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $83,820 or less a year; the top 10% make $203,400 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.