Illinois sits near the top of its regional peer group, with a mean of $136,540 that nearly matches Texas at $136,450 and exceeds Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana by a meaningful margin. The statewide figure is 7.8% below the national mean of $148,100, so Illinois is a moderately cost-effective market compared to the national picture. If you are hiring across multiple states, expect to pay more in Illinois than in most Midwest neighbors but roughly the same as in Texas.
Software engineer salary in Illinois (2026)
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The average software engineer salary in Illinois is $136,540 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $132,110 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Illinois employs 56,310 software engineers, and the $4,430 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior engineers in Illinois typically earn around $80,980, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $194,740 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a software engineer hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $132,110 |
Average Annual Salary | $136,540 |
vs. National Average | 7.8% below the national mean of $148,100 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 56,310 employed software engineers across Illinois.
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Software engineer salary percentiles in Illinois
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $80,980 |
25th Percentile | $101,540 |
75th Percentile | $166,420 |
90th Percentile | $194,740 |
Employers hiring at the entry level should expect offers in the $80,980 to $101,540 range, while mid-to-senior roles will push well above $132,110. Senior specialists in Illinois regularly reach $166,420 at the 75th percentile and $194,740 at the 90th percentile, so budget accordingly when competing for experienced candidates.
Software engineer salary by city in Illinois
City | Average Annual Salary |
Chicago | $141,640 |
Peoria | $129,350 |
Springfield | $115,900 |
Rockford | $115,370 |
Champaign | $114,930 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a software engineer in Illinois, so remote or hybrid arrangements that draw from lower-cost markets can reduce compensation pressure. Chicago commands the highest average at $141,640, which is $26,710 above Champaign at $114,930. Employers hiring outside the Chicago metro can anchor offers closer to the lower end of the statewide range without losing competitiveness in those local markets.
How Illinois compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Illinois | $136,540 | $132,110 |
Texas | $136,450 | $132,150 |
Michigan | $122,720 | $125,570 |
Wisconsin | $122,620 | $122,660 |
Ohio | $119,860 | $114,090 |
Indiana | $113,980 | $105,920 |
Illinois and Texas sit at nearly identical compensation levels, so employers competing for talent across both states will face similar budget requirements. Illinois comes in above Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana, with Indiana's mean of $113,980 sitting roughly $22,560 below Illinois. If your team is distributed across the Midwest, you can expect meaningfully lower compensation benchmarks in neighboring states outside of Texas.
Frequently asked questions about software engineer salary in Illinois
How does Illinois compare to other states for software engineer salary?
What do the top-earning software engineers make in Illinois?
Software engineers at the 90th percentile in Illinois earn $194,740 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $166,420, so senior and specialized roles command a wide range above the median. When budgeting for experienced hires, plan for offers well above the $132,110 median if you are targeting candidates with deep specialization or leadership experience.
What is the salary range for a software engineer in Illinois?
The full documented range runs from $80,980 at the 10th percentile to $194,740 at the 90th percentile. The 25th percentile sits at $101,540 and the 75th at $166,420, giving you a practical mid-range band for most hiring scenarios. Anchor your offer to the seniority level and technical specialization of the specific role you are filling rather than defaulting to the statewide average.
What is the average software engineer salary in Illinois?
The average software engineer salary in Illinois is $136,540 per year. The median of $132,110 is a more reliable benchmark for most hiring decisions because a smaller group of high earners pulls the average above the midpoint. For most roles, budgeting around the $132,110 median and adjusting upward for seniority will keep your offers competitive in the Illinois market.
Software Engineer salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 15-1252 (Software Developers).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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