Software engineer salaries in Chicago
38 reported salaries and 32 posted ranges · last 12 months · USD, rounded to $5K
All metrosSeattleNew YorkLos AngelesDenverBostonSF Bay AreaPortland, ORMinneapolisAtlantaChicagoTorontoWashington DC
Median base
$150K
p25 $105K · p75 $200K
Median total comp
$175K
base + bonus + equity (annualized)
Posted range midpoint
$210K
median of 32 listings
Reported vs posted
-29%
people are paid below posted midpoints
Percentile bands by level
p10–p90p25–p75medianposted range (median)
$50K$95K$140K$185K$230K$275K
Entry · IC1
n=12
$95K
p25 $75K · p75 $105K-15% vs posted
Mid · IC2
n=7
$145K
median only
Senior · IC3
n=9
$165K
p25 $150K · p75 $175K
Staff · IC4
n=8
$230K
p25 $220K · p75 $230K+5% vs posted
Principal · IC5+
n=<5
Not enough reports yet — we show a median at 5.
needs 5
Distribution
$10K buckets · basePosted vs. reported, by company
Companies whose people report being paid above (green) or below (orange) the midpoint of their posted ranges for the same level.
Per-company rows need 10 reported salaries and 5 posted ranges each.
Offers vs. current pay
Offers median $210K vs current employees $150K (+40%). New offers are labelled separately from current pay.
Offers 7current employees 31
Remote vs. onsite
Remote median $155K vs onsite / hybrid $145K (+7%). Remote pay is normalized to where the employee lives, not the company HQ.
Remote 14onsite / hybrid 24