Software Developer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Software Developers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $134,380 a year ($64.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 40,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $203,410 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $132,110. There are 8.9 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $141,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,820 | $40.30 |
| 25th percentile | $104,530 | $50.25 |
| Median | $134,380 | $64.60 |
| 75th percentile | $167,650 | $80.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $203,410 | $97.79 |
| Average (mean) | $141,640 | $68.10 |
Half of software developers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,198.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,599.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,168.46 |
| Weekly | $2,584.23 |
| Hourly | $64.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kokomo, IN | $132,390 | 60 |
| Peoria, IL | $130,590 | 1,650 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $129,030 | 9,820 |
| Bloomington, IL | $123,320 | 1,570 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $121,420 | 9,900 |
| Kankakee, IL | $116,550 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $115,780 | 1,220 |
| Decatur, IL | $110,300 | 70 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $110,270 | 2,770 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $107,770 | 110 |
| Rockford, IL | $107,640 | 380 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $106,870 | 7,140 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $106,080 | 670 |
| Columbus, IN | $104,880 | 280 |
| Springfield, IL | $104,550 | 660 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $101,710 | 230 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $101,560 | 810 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $100,220 | 90 |
| Bloomington, IN | $99,990 | 220 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $99,750 | 490 |
| Muncie, IN | $99,380 | 120 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $99,260 | 140 |
| Evansville, IN | $98,560 | 290 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $98,510 | 70 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $95,500 | 350 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $103,490 | $49.76 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $101,660 | $48.88 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $103,170 | $49.60 |
| Computer Network Architect | $143,800 | $69.14 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $105,580 | $50.76 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $73,340 | $35.26 |
| Information Security Analyst | $125,310 | $60.25 |
| Web Developer | $96,870 | $46.57 |
| Database Administrator | $109,680 | $52.73 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $87,920 | $42.27 |
| Database Architect | $147,490 | $70.91 |
| Computer Programmer | $99,750 | $47.96 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $135,630 | $65.21 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1252. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for software developers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $134,380 a year, or $64.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $203,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of software developers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $203,410 a year. The top 25% earn $167,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,820 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $104,530 or less.
How many software developers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 40,370 software developers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.