Web Developer Salary in Chicago, IL
Web Developers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $96,870 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,328 take-home, or $6,027 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median web developer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,481
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,006
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,405
- Illinois income tax$4,650
- Take-home pay$72,328
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.
Web Developer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,790 | $35.00 | $56,579 | $4,715 |
| 25th percentile | $79,140 | $38.05 | $60,732 | $5,061 |
| Median (50th) | $96,870 | $46.57 | $72,328 | $6,027 |
| 75th percentile | $117,100 | $56.30 | $85,558 | $7,130 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,330 | $64.58 | $96,576 | $8,048 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,870 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 web developer's $72,328 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,818 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.4× the national concentration of web developer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for web developers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #18 of 27 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $166,670 | $111,748 | $101,199 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $130,440 | $100,422 | $90,362 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $152,450 | $103,535 | $89,553 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $134,350 | $94,643 | $86,921 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $106,360 | $79,593 | $83,704 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $108,550 | $80,832 | $80,592 |
| 7 | Provo, UT | $103,970 | $78,260 | $79,669 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $101,980 | $77,013 | $79,111 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $96,870 | $72,328 | $69,818 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 27 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a web developer make in Chicago, IL?
The median web developer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $96,870 a year, or about $46.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,140 and $117,100.
What is a web developer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $96,870 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $72,328 a year ($6,027 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,650 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a web developer?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $92,650. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,818 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #18 of 27 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a web 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) — 25% of a median web 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
- 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