Expert Software Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 1,710 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $148,949 |
| 25th | $152,450 |
| 50th (median) | $158,188 |
| 75th | $176,052 |
| 90th | $198,305 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $121,723 | $114,000 | $135,000 | 1,240 |
| FY2021 | $127,338 | $122,000 | $143,936 | 1,046 |
| FY2022 | $135,000 | $126,000 | $150,000 | 1,353 |
| FY2023 | $144,560 | $135,000 | $160,000 | 975 |
| FY2024 | $150,000 | $145,000 | $166,000 | 852 |
| FY2025 | $155,000 | $148,949 | $173,201 | 1,056 |
| FY2026 | $162,100 | $153,317 | $184,226 | 654 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median expert Software Engineer salary of $158,188 is worth about $152,700 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 $158,188, 18% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Discover | $149,000 | 113 |
| JPMorgan Chase | $162,650 | 80 |
| Capital One | $162,100 | 57 |
| CVS Health | $170,568 | 49 |
| Deloitte | $155,709 | 45 |
| The Northern Trust Company | $160,000 | 45 |
| McDonald's | $172,625 | 38 |
| Caterpillar | $153,317 | 31 |
| Capgemini America | $166,262 | 21 |
| Medline Industries | $163,897 | 19 |
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.