Software Developer Salary in Chicago, IL
Software Developers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $134,380 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,608 take-home, or $8,051 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,985
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,332
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,949
- Illinois income tax$6,507
- Take-home pay$96,608
Marginal rate: 24% 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.
Software Developer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,820 | $40.30 | $63,793 | $5,316 |
| 25th percentile | $104,530 | $50.25 | $77,337 | $6,445 |
| Median (50th) | $134,380 | $64.61 | $96,608 | $8,051 |
| 75th percentile | $167,650 | $80.60 | $117,701 | $9,808 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $203,410 | $97.79 | $141,514 | $11,793 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $134,380 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 software developer's $96,608 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,255 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #112 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 112 | Chicago, IL | $134,380 | $96,608 | $93,255 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $130,590
- Bloomington, IL — $123,320
- Champaign, IL — $106,080
- Springfield, IL — $104,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Chicago, IL?
The median software developer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $134,380 a year, or about $64.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $104,530 and $167,650.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $134,380 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $96,608 a year ($8,051 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,507 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,255 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #112 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 19% of a median software developer’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
- 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
- Computer Programmer — $99,750