SOC 15-1252 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Software Developers — Northwest Illinois
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Northwest Illinois, IL is $103,910 a year, trailing the national median of $135,980 by 23.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Northwest Illinois, IL is $103,910 a year, trailing the national median of $135,980 by 23.6%. Half of workers earn between $79,900 and $133,690. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $75,880 and the ninetieth at $168,560.
The area has 200 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.6 of every thousand jobs. Chicago leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $134,380. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 23rd of 326 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $75,880 | −44.2% |
| 25th | $79,900 | −41.2% |
| Median (50th) | $103,910 | −23.6% |
| 75th | $133,690 | −1.7% |
| 90th | $168,560 | +24.0% |
| Mean | $114,320 | −15.9% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $134,380 | 40,370 | |
| 2 | Peoria | $130,590 | 1,650 | |
| 3 | Bloomington | $123,320 | 1,570 | |
| 4 | Kankakee | $116,550 | 60 | |
| 5 | Decatur | $110,300 | 70 | |
| 6 | Rockford | $107,640 | 380 | |
| 7 | Champaign | $106,080 | 670 | |
| 8 | Springfield | $104,550 | 660 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Northwest Illinois sit close to the national average, so $103,910 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$103,910as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$103,910US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $103,910 a year, 23.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $75,880 to $168,560 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 200 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $134,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Software Developers in Northwest Illinois, IL?
The median annual wage is $103,910, or $49.96 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 Northwest Illinois, IL is 23.6% 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 Northwest Illinois, IL earns more than $168,560 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $75,880 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 Chicago, at $134,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 200 jobs in this occupation in Northwest Illinois, 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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