Software Developer salary in Illinois
Software Developers in Illinois earn a median of $132,110 a year ($63.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 56,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $194,740 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $135,980. Illinois ranks 16th of 50 states for software developers pay. There are 9.2 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $136,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,980 | $38.93 |
| 25th percentile | $101,540 | $48.82 |
| Median | $132,110 | $63.52 |
| 75th percentile | $166,420 | $80.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $194,740 | $93.63 |
| Average (mean) | $136,540 | $65.65 |
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 | $11,009.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,504.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,081.15 |
| Weekly | $2,540.58 |
| Hourly | $63.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $134,380 | 40,370 |
| Peoria, IL | $130,590 | 1,650 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $129,030 | 9,820 |
| Bloomington, IL | $123,320 | 1,570 |
| Kankakee, IL | $116,550 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $115,780 | 1,220 |
| Decatur, IL | $110,300 | 70 |
| Rockford, IL | $107,640 | 380 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $106,080 | 670 |
| Springfield, IL | $104,550 | 660 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $100,220 | 90 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $99,260 | 140 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $59,860 | $28.78 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $99,360 | $47.77 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $100,080 | $48.12 |
| Computer Network Architect | $132,790 | $63.84 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $68,530 | $32.95 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Information Security Analyst | $124,180 | $59.70 |
| Web Developer | $84,820 | $40.78 |
| Database Administrator | $104,650 | $50.31 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $85,710 | $41.21 |
| Database Architect | $142,500 | $68.51 |
| Computer Programmer | $72,540 | $34.88 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $136,540 | $65.64 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for software developers in Illinois is $132,110 a year, or $63.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $194,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of software developers in Illinois earn at least $194,740 a year. The top 25% earn $166,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,980 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $101,540 or less.
How many software developers work in Illinois?
About 56,310 software developers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.