Computer Programmer Salary in Chicago, IL
Computer Programmers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $99,750 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,211 take-home, or $6,184 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,115
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,185
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,446
- Illinois income tax$4,793
- Take-home pay$74,211
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Computer Programmer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,830 | $30.21 | $49,699 | $4,142 |
| 25th percentile | $66,710 | $32.07 | $52,603 | $4,384 |
| Median (50th) | $99,750 | $47.96 | $74,211 | $6,184 |
| 75th percentile | $131,590 | $63.26 | $94,839 | $7,903 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $152,940 | $73.53 | $108,375 | $9,031 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,750 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer programmer's $74,211 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,636 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Programmer jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.24), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #24 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | $136,880 | $99,698 | $109,135 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $101,903 | $99,180 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $104,962 | $95,054 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $128,900 | $93,144 | $86,033 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $92,956 | $83,080 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $101,830 | $76,619 | $82,793 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $118,000 | $85,342 | $81,416 |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $99,750 | $74,211 | $71,636 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Chicago, IL?
The median computer programmer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $99,750 a year, or about $47.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $66,710 and $131,590.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $99,750 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $74,211 a year ($6,184 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,793 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,636 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #24 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Database Architect — $147,490
- Computer Network Architect — $143,800
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $135,630
- Software Developer — $134,380
- Information Security Analyst — $125,310
- Actuary — $113,730
- Database Administrator — $109,680
- Data Scientist — $107,640
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $105,580
- Computer Systems Analyst — $103,490
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $103,170
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $101,660