SOC 15-1252 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Software Developers — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · 7 metro areas compared
At $134,380, median pay for Software Developers in Chicago, IL tracks the national median of $135,980 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $134,380, median pay for Software Developers in Chicago, IL tracks the national median of $135,980 closely. Pay ranges from under $83,820 at the tenth percentile to more than $203,410 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $104,530 to $167,650.
Employment stands at 40,370, or 8.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Peoria records the highest median at $130,590. Of the 716 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 49th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,820 | −38.4% |
| 25th | $104,530 | −23.1% |
| Median (50th) | $134,380 | −1.2% |
| 75th | $167,650 | +23.3% |
| 90th | $203,410 | +49.6% |
| Mean | $141,640 | +4.2% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peoria | $130,590 | 1,650 | |
| 2 | Bloomington | $123,320 | 1,570 | |
| 3 | Kankakee | $116,550 | 60 | |
| 4 | Decatur | $110,300 | 70 | |
| 5 | Rockford | $107,640 | 380 | |
| 6 | Champaign | $106,080 | 670 | |
| 7 | Springfield | $104,550 | 660 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $134,380 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$134,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$134,380US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $134,380 a year, 1.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $83,820 to $203,410 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40,370 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Peoria, at $130,590.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Software Developers in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $134,380, or $64.60 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $135,980, so pay in Chicago, IL is 1.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Chicago, IL earns more than $203,410 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $83,820 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Peoria, at $130,590 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40,370 jobs in this occupation in Chicago, IL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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