What software, data, IT, and trading-technology roles actually pay across Chicago and the metro in 2026 — base ranges, total comp where it matters, and what moves an offer.
Figures below are annual and reflect Chicago-area market rates for 2026. Standard software, data, and IT roles are shown as base salary; trading-technology roles are shown as total compensation, because bonus is a large, expected part of pay in that segment. Ranges run roughly the 25th–75th percentile.
The core of Chicago hiring demand. See how we place these roles on our software engineer recruiting page.
| Role | Typical range (base) | Midpoint | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior / Entry Software Engineer | $80K – $97K | $88K | 0–2 yrs; total comp often ~$100K+ with bonus |
| Software Engineer (mid, 1–4 yrs) | $95K – $125K | $105K | Most common hire; varies by stack & sector |
| Senior Software Engineer | $135K – $175K | $152K | 5+ yrs; higher at product/fintech firms |
| Engineering Manager / Lead | $155K – $210K | $180K | People leadership + delivery ownership |
Base salary; excludes equity and bonus unless noted.
Data engineering, DevOps, and platform roles — among the fastest-growing Chicago tech categories.
| Role | Typical range (base) | Midpoint | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Engineer | $105K – $150K | $125K | Higher with streaming / cloud-scale experience |
| DevOps Engineer | $121K – $179K | $127K | Total comp averages ~$149K with bonus |
| Senior DevOps / Platform Engineer | $160K – $205K | $183K | Kubernetes, IaC, reliability ownership |
| Database Administrator | $115K – $155K | $134K | Premium for high-availability / trading data |
Base salary; DevOps total-comp figure includes bonus where indicated.
Infrastructure, administration, and support hires. We staff these through our Chicago IT recruiting desk.
| Role | Typical range (base) | Midpoint | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT Systems Administrator | $69K – $97K | $84K | Windows/Linux, cloud & on-prem |
| IT Support / Help Desk Specialist | $50K – $72K | $60K | Tier 1–2; est. from market range |
| Network / Cloud Engineer | $95K – $140K | $115K | Rises sharply with AWS/Azure certs |
Base salary. Support/help-desk midpoint is a market estimate, not a single-source figure.
Chicago's proprietary trading firms and hedge funds pay well above standard software rates for low-latency, C++, and quant talent. This is a specialty of our trading-technology recruiting practice.
| Role | Typical range (total comp) | Midpoint | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Developer | $126K – $214K | $176K | Top 10% ~$246K+; base + performance bonus |
| Low-Latency / C++ Engineer | $180K – $300K | $220K | Scarce skill set; bonus-heavy |
| Software Engineer, prop-trading firm | $227K – $450K | $287K | Median total comp at top Chicago trading firms |
Total compensation including bonus. Individual firms (Citadel, Jump, DRW, and peers) vary widely.
Trading, fintech, and healthcare-tech employers pay 15–40% above the median for the same title versus agencies or non-tech firms.
Fully on-site Loop and Fulton Market roles increasingly carry a premium as employers compete for in-office talent.
Low-latency C++, modern data platforms, and applied ML pull offers to the top of the range fast.
The strongest candidates clear the market in days. A slow process costs more than a competitive offer — a case for our tech staffing desk.
These figures blend published 2026 base-salary and total-compensation data with our own live Chicago placements, so they reflect what employers are actually paying — not just advertised ranges. Where sources disagree, we weight toward the midpoint and note when a figure is a market estimate.
Sources reviewed (2026): PayScale, Built In & Built In Chicago, Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Salary.com, and Blind, cross-referenced against Chicago Technical Recruiter placement data. Ranges approximate the 25th–75th percentile; trading-technology figures reflect total compensation including bonus.
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