2026 Chicago Tech Salary Guide

Understanding what constitutes a good IT salary in Chicago involves reviewing current compensation benchmarks specific to the region. While detailed salary data primarily sourced from Minneapolis and comparable Midwest markets can guide us, regional variation must be considered due to cost of living and local demand.

A Technical Support Analyst in Chicago earns up to approximately $87,000 annually at a senior level. This role typically reflects entry to mid-level IT positions. Higher-level technical roles and IT specialties such as cybersecurity, data science, or DevOps generally command significantly higher salaries, often exceeding six figures in similar metropolitan areas.

In fact, when considering the broader IT salary Chicago landscape, positions in information security, software development, and cloud platform management tend to reflect the expanding viability and critical impact of digital transformation initiatives. These roles offer the potential for a seamless experience in compensation growth, aligning closely with evolving industry trends.

While direct data for Chicago-specific averages varies, a good IT salary would exceed local mid-level benchmarks and incorporate factors such as company size, specific skill sets, and years of experience. Staying attuned to such metrics provides a clearer picture of fair market value and competitive compensation within the Chicago technology workforce.

The IT job with the highest salary in Chicago tends to be senior roles in specialized development and engineering functions. While direct Chicago-specific top salary data varies, senior level platform engineers and software developers often command the highest compensation within the local IT landscape.

For instance, senior software developers can earn between $116,638 and $139,173 annually in the Chicago area based on current market data. Although some roles such as senior data engineers or node.js developers report higher maximum salaries in other tech hubs, reaching up to $214,829 or $213,300 respectively, these figures illustrate the expanding viability of certain skill sets that can drive compensation upward in Chicago as well.

Positions like database administrators and C++ developers, with senior salaries often exceeding $150,000 in markets comparable to Chicago, further demonstrate the sectors with the greatest salary potential. While some entry-level or mid-tier IT roles staple salaries closer to $70,000 to $110,000, senior roles focusing on AI, cloud infrastructure, or complex software development deliver the most significant impact on IT salary Chicago benchmarks.

This evolving landscape reflects ongoing digital transformation initiatives that elevate demand for highly skilled professionals with specialized expertise, resulting in sustained growth for top-tier IT jobs.

IT salaries in Chicago for 2026 have generally shown an upward trend, reflecting both inflation adjustments and the expanding viability of tech skill sets. Mid-level and senior IT roles across various specializations exhibit competitive salary ranges indicative of a healthy demand.

For example, mid-level Software Developers in Chicago now earn between $100,841 and $135,127 annually, while senior Software Developers command from $116,638 to $139,173. Similarly, senior Platform Engineers attract salaries from $148,138 to $181,008, demonstrating strong growth in infrastructure and cloud-related roles.

Data Analysts and Data Engineers also see significant earnings, with mid-level Data Analysts ranging from approximately $89,785 to $110,294 and senior Data Engineers earning between $138,078 and $167,935. Systems Engineers and Site Reliability Engineers maintain solid pay with senior level salaries spanning $131,908 to $173,072.

While the relative increase differs by role and expertise, these figures underscore that IT salary Chicago benchmarks for 2026 continue to rise in alignment with digital transformation demands and the evolving landscape of technology workforce needs.