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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
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 #3 of 4 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $130,440 | $100,422 | $90,362 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $134,350 | $94,643 | $86,921 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $96,870 | $72,328 | $69,818 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $104,820 | $77,427 | $68,785 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 4 metros →
About the job: web developers
Develop and implement websites, web applications, application databases, and interactive web interfaces. Evaluate code to ensure that it is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers and devices. Optimize website performance, scalability, and server-side code and processes. May develop website infrastructure and integrate websites with other computer applications.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
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 #3 of 4 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
- Computer Network Architect — $143,800
- Software Developer — $134,380
- Information Security Analyst — $125,310
- 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
- Operations Research Analyst — $86,500
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $73,340
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,730