Mid-level Software Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 3,520 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $106,558 |
| 25th | $106,600 |
| 50th (median) | $108,077 |
| 75th | $120,700 |
| 90th | $142,686 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $85,000 | $81,931 | $92,000 | 4,314 |
| FY2021 | $90,000 | $87,838 | $99,986 | 3,516 |
| FY2022 | $91,000 | $90,397 | $98,563 | 4,268 |
| FY2023 | $96,000 | $94,016 | $104,000 | 2,982 |
| FY2024 | $103,000 | $102,690 | $110,000 | 2,606 |
| FY2025 | $107,120 | $106,558 | $120,000 | 2,229 |
| FY2026 | $109,000 | $108,077 | $123,825 | 1,291 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median mid-level Software Engineer salary of $108,077 is worth about $104,300 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 $108,077, 20% lower.
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 | $106,558 | 114 |
| Deloitte | $108,077 | 63 |
| Capgemini America | $108,439 | 56 |
| Compunnel Software Group | $109,950 | 50 |
| Bitwise | $115,000 | 49 |
| EY | $131,250 | 47 |
| Amazon | $152,200 | 46 |
| Tecaholic | $106,558 | 29 |
| CVS Health | $123,558 | 27 |
| $144,000 | 27 |
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.