Software Developer (R&D) salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 12 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Batavia, Joliet.
Median salary$90,916
Middle 50%$88.1k–$127.6k
vs. national median−16%comparison median $108,534
Filings12FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k$130k$140k$150k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $76,095 |
| 25th | $88,085 |
| 50th (median) | $90,916 |
| 75th | $127,648 |
| 90th | $137,794 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $95,000 | $87,501 | $108,021 | 10 |
| FY2021 | $95,000 | $77,056 | $104,128 | 11 |
| FY2022 | $112,665 | $92,057 | $133,482 | 16 |
| FY2023 | $83,334 | $73,800 | $117,970 | 12 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 6 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Software Developer (R&D) salary of $90,916 is worth about $87,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | too few | 8 |
| Fermi Forward Discovery Group | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 5 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 5 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.