Software Engineer Salary in Chicago

Pay ranges below come from 19 current software engineer listings that disclose salary in Chicago, updated daily. We only show what employers actually post — never estimates.

Median base pay

from 19 disclosed ranges

$116,270/yr

$30,500$55,000 – $154,500 typical$192,500

Highest-paying employers in Chicago

Michael Pageup to $225,000
Old Missionup to $200,000
Northern Trustup to $195,000
JPMorganChaseup to $185,000
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneersup to $168,920

Highest disclosed figure per employer in the current feed.

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Software Engineer roles in Chicago that list pay

Real current listings, highest disclosed pay first.

Software Engineer - Python - Capital Markets / Market Risk

Michael Page · Chicago, Illinois

$160,000 - $225,000

Tailor & apply →

Software Engineer – 2027 Internship Program

Old Mission · Chicago, Illinois

$150,000 - $200,000

Tailor & apply →

Lead Software Engineer - Java Spring Boot

JPMorganChase · Chicago, Illinois

$137,750 - $185,000

Tailor & apply →

Software Engineer, iOS Developer, App Developer - Mobile​/Web

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers · Chicago, Illinois

$140,800 - $168,920

Tailor & apply →

Senior Software Engineer — .NET & React

Northern Trust · Chicago, Illinois

$114,000 - $195,000

Tailor & apply →

IT Software Engineer 5 - Senior Java Developer - AWS

The AES Group · Chicago, Illinois

$70 - $75

Tailor & apply →

What moves Software Engineer pay

Seniority

Years of experience and scope are the biggest lever — senior software engineer roles routinely clear the top of the range above.

Company & industry

Larger and high-margin employers pay more for the same software engineer title than smaller or non-profit ones.

Local market

Cost of living and local demand shift Chicago offers up or down versus the national figure.

Frequently asked

How much does a Software Engineer make in Chicago?

Based on 19 disclosed ranges in our current feed, the median is around $116,270 per year. Actual pay varies by experience, company, and specialty.

Where do these numbers come from?

Real job listings in Climbr's feed that publish a salary range, refreshed daily and annualized for comparison. We don't use survey estimates or model-generated figures — if employers don't post pay, we don't show a number.

How can I earn more as a Software Engineer?

Target the higher-paying employers above, tailor your resume to each role so it clears applicant screens, and negotiate against the posted range. Climbr scores your resume against each job and rewrites bullets to match — free to start.

Software Engineer salary in other cities

Other salaries in Chicago

See open Software Engineer jobs in Chicago →