BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Software Developers in Illinois

$136,540 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$65.64 per hour

▼ 7.8% below U.S. average17th of 50 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$136,540per year
Median$132,110per year
Hourly$65.64per hour
10th – 90th percentile$80,980 – $194,740per year

Software Developers Pay Range in Illinois

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$80,980
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$101,540
  • 50th Percentile — Median$132,110
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$166,420
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$194,740

Half of Software Developers in Illinois earn more than $132,110. The top 10% make $194,740 or more, while entry-level workers start around $80,980.

Software Developers in Illinois: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Illinois ranks 17th of 50 states for Software Developers pay, at $136,540 per year (7.8% below the U.S. average of $148,100).
  • 56,310 people work as Software Developers in Illinois — 3.3% of all U.S. Software Developers jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.85: Software Developers jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $80,980; the top 10% earn over $194,740.
  • Hourly equivalent: $65.64 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is California at $186,770.
  • Among technology jobs in Illinois, Computer and Information Research Scientists pays the most ($142,950).

Software Developers Job Market in Illinois

Key factors affecting compensation

Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Software Developers here earn $136,540 on average, placing the state 17th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $136,540 is roughly equivalent to $130,038 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Delaware ($138,110), Nevada ($137,350), Florida ($137,010) are the closest alternatives for Software Developers weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Software Developers salary in Illinois?

The average Software Developers salary in Illinois is $136,540 per year (median $132,110), which is 7.8% below the national average of $148,100.

How does Illinois rank for Software Developers pay?

Illinois ranks 17th out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($186,770/yr).

How much do entry-level Software Developers make in Illinois?

The lowest-paid 10% of Software Developers in Illinois earn about $80,980 per year and the 25th percentile is $101,540.

How much do Software Developers make per hour in Illinois?

About $65.64 per hour, based on the $136,540 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Software Developers work in Illinois?

BLS counts 56,310 Software Developers jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).

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