salary$134,380 a year$65 an hour · median pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$83,820per year
Top pay (top 10%)$203,410per year
Jobs in the area40,370people work this job
Can a software developer afford Chicago?
Cheap. Rent of $1,983 a month takes 17.7% of the median software developer salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Software Developer pay in similar cities
Other jobs in Chicago
Registered NurseNurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations ManagerLawyer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Chicago, IL?
The median pay for a software developer in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area is $134,380 a year ($65 an hour). Most earn between $83,820 and $203,410.
Can a software developer afford to live in Chicago?
Typical rent of $1,983 a month takes 17.7% of the median software developer salary, which we rate Cheap.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area.