Software engineer salary ranges in Chicago
What open software engineering postings in Chicago say they pay: the top and the low end of the range each one states, in yearly dollars.
By level
How far the posted top moves from one level to the next, for software engineering in Chicago.
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Junior60 postings$91,000$85k–$140k
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Senior412 postings$180,000$152k–$208k
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Staff and principal91 postings$220,000$189k–$240k
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Manager and above127 postings$216,000$180k–$252k
Best-paying companies in Chicago
Ranked by the median top of their open software engineering postings in Chicago, among companies with at least three that state pay.
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Harvey5 with pay$320,000$320k–$385k
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McMaster-Carr8 with pay$310,000$245k–$313k
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Hudson River Trading7 with pay$300,000$300k–$300k
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Legora4 with pay$280,000$280k–$303k
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Okta9 with pay$267,000$221k–$275k
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Dev3 with pay$263,000$223k–$285k
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Balyasny Asset Management8 with pay$263,000$250k–$281k
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Databricks5 with pay$250,000$250k–$250k
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3Red Partners3 with pay$250,000$225k–$250k
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Chicago Trading Company10 with pay$250,000$231k–$250k
Software engineer pay by place
The same work in every place with enough postings, highest median first; Chicago is marked.
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SF Bay Area13,945 postings$250,000$204k–$300k
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New York5,475 postings$220,000$180k–$265k
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Remote10,935 postings$205,000$160k–$257k
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Seattle4,023 postings$205,000$185k–$250k
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Boston1,594 postings$195,000$155k–$229k
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Austin1,176 postings$195,000$155k–$240k
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All of the US85,409 postings$190,000$145k–$238k
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Washington DC2,227 postings$185,000$155k–$225k
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San Diego1,433 postings$185,000$150k–$220k
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Los Angeles1,972 postings$182,000$150k–$220k
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Dallas1,023 postings$182,000$145k–$219k
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Denver975 postings$175,000$140k–$206k
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Raleigh–Durham236 postings$173,000$135k–$202k
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Chicago1,225 postings$171,000$130k–$216k
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Miami131 postings$170,000$130k–$200k
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Atlanta461 postings$169,000$135k–$206k
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Portland108 postings$155,000$120k–$208k
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Salt Lake City179 postings$150,000$113k–$190k
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Philadelphia119 postings$135,000$104k–$177k
Using these numbers
- Before you apply, check where the posting's own range sits against the middle half here. A range far below it is worth a question before you spend an afternoon on the application.
- When they ask what you expect, a figure inside the middle half for your level is one the market has already posted. Name the top of the posting's range if your experience matches what it asks for.
- Remember what a top is: the most a company says it may pay for the role. Offers land anywhere in the range, and equity and bonus are not in it.
Questions
How much do software engineer jobs pay in Chicago?
Open software engineering postings in Chicago that state pay post a median top of $171,000 a year; the middle half runs from $130,000 to $216,000, and the median low end of the ranges is $125,000. That is from 1,225 postings as of October 14, 2026.
How does the pay change with level?
For software engineering postings in Chicago, the median posted top is $91,000 for junior, $180,000 for senior, $220,000 for staff and principal, $216,000 for manager and above.
Which companies post the most for software engineering in Chicago?
Among companies with at least three postings that state pay, Harvey ($320,000), McMaster-Carr ($310,000), Hudson River Trading ($300,000) post the highest median tops.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the pay ranges employers state in their own open job postings, which DonutApply reads from company job boards and public job feeds every day. They are what a company says it may pay for the role, not salaries anyone reported.
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