Software Developers salary
in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Software Developers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro earn a median of $134,380 a year, based on BLS estimates for 40,370 jobs (May 2025). That is 1% below the U.S. median of $135,980 and 2% above the IL statewide median of $132,110. It ranks #35 of 339 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE40,370 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Were you outpaid?
Your salary is ranked in your browser and never uploaded.
EMPLOYERS FILING FOR THIS JOB IN CHICAGO · VISA-SPONSORED BASE WAGES
Median of each employer’s DOL LCA filings (5+ filings) in this metro, FY2026 Q3. Covers sponsored positions only.
- Headlands Tech Organization$287,500 · 8 filings
- IMC Americas$200,000 · 30 filings
- Salesforce$200,000 · 11 filings
- Optiver Services US$200,000 · 10 filings
- LexisNexis Risk Solutions FL$184,047 · 6 filings
- Docusign$182,006 · 11 filings
- Team Belvedere$180,000 · 15 filings
- Optum Services$177,618 · 7 filings
- Microsoft$176,386 · 8 filings
- Databricks$175,608 · 5 filings
- Capital One Services$173,736 · 142 filings
- McDonald's$171,510 · 23 filings
SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS PAY IN OTHER IL METROS
- Peoria, ILmedian $130,590
- Bloomington, ILmedian $123,320
- East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan areamedian $122,760
- South Illinois nonmetropolitan areamedian $122,390
- Rockford, ILmedian $107,640
- Champaign-Urbana, ILmedian $106,080
- Springfield, ILmedian $104,550
- Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan areamedian $103,910
Questions
What is the average Software Developers salary in Chicago?
The BLS median is $134,380 a year (May 2025). Half of the 40,370 jobs pay between $104,530 and $167,650. The 10th percentile is $83,820 and the 90th is $203,410.
Is Chicago a high-paying metro for Software Developers?
That is 1% below the U.S. median of $135,980 and 2% above the IL statewide median of $132,110. It ranks #35 of 339 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Which employers pay Software Developers the most in Chicago?
Among employers with 5+ visa-sponsored filings here, the highest medians were Headlands Tech Organization ($287,500), IMC Americas ($200,000), Salesforce ($200,000). These are base wages for sponsored positions, not all employees.
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.