Software Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 8,846 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Riverwoods, Schaumburg, Naperville, Aurora, Buffalo Grove.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $98,483 |
| 25th | $108,012 |
| 50th (median) | $127,754 |
| 75th | $150,000 |
| 90th | $170,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $95,000 | $82,000 | $113,630 | 7,759 |
| FY2021 | $100,000 | $88,000 | $120,000 | 6,728 |
| FY2022 | $100,000 | $90,397 | $125,445 | 8,140 |
| FY2023 | $110,000 | $94,100 | $134,118 | 5,771 |
| FY2024 | $112,135 | $102,690 | $141,440 | 5,338 |
| FY2025 | $127,754 | $106,558 | $148,949 | 5,437 |
| FY2026 | $130,707 | $108,077 | $153,317 | 3,409 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Software Engineer salary of $127,754 is worth about $123,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $134,380 in May 2025 (40,370 employed). The H-1B median here is $127,754, 5% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Discover | $108,826 | 343 |
| Medline Industries | $138,000 | 305 |
| Capgemini America | $130,707 | 225 |
| Capital One | $148,949 | 172 |
| Deloitte | $146,800 | 151 |
| JPMorgan Chase | $154,300 | 141 |
| EY | $154,386 | 128 |
| The Northern Trust Company | $140,000 | 114 |
| CVS Health | $152,000 | 111 |
| Amazon | $155,000 | 90 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $86,000 | 1,024 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $108,077 | 3,520 |
| Senior · Level III | $136,990 | 1,856 |
| Expert · Level IV | $158,188 | 1,710 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $85,363 | $86,000 | 1,024 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $106,558 | $108,077 | 3,520 |
| Senior · Level III | $127,754 | $136,990 | 1,856 |
| Expert · Level IV | $148,949 | $158,188 | 1,710 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.