Senior Software Engineer salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 1,856 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $127,754 |
| 25th | $130,707 |
| 50th (median) | $136,990 |
| 75th | $150,000 |
| 90th | $170,498 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $104,000 | $97,781 | $110,000 | 1,651 |
| FY2021 | $110,000 | $104,700 | $121,000 | 1,265 |
| FY2022 | $115,000 | $107,931 | $129,300 | 1,691 |
| FY2023 | $123,740 | $114,100 | $135,000 | 1,168 |
| FY2024 | $134,030 | $125,000 | $145,000 | 1,029 |
| FY2025 | $137,915 | $130,000 | $151,826 | 1,176 |
| FY2026 | $135,000 | $130,707 | $148,925 | 680 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median senior Software Engineer salary of $136,990 is worth about $132,200 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 $136,990, 2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Capgemini America | $131,750 | 148 |
| Medline Industries | $145,000 | 118 |
| EY | $185,359 | 46 |
| The Northern Trust Company | $137,225 | 40 |
| Amazon | $164,200 | 33 |
| CVS Health | $143,553 | 31 |
| Zurich American Insurance Company | $143,856 | 24 |
| Health Care Service | $127,754 | 23 |
| Cognizant | $127,754 | 22 |
| Chicago Mercantile Exchange | $130,707 | 22 |
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.