2027 Chicago Tech Salary Guide

Find out the expected salaries for Chicago tech workers in 2027 with the Tech Salary Guide from Motion Recruitment. The guide includes salary data for over 100 tech positions, along with expert commentary on the changing Chicago tech scene and the latest industry developments.

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IT Salaries and Tech Market Insights for Chicago in 2027

Motion’s Chicago 2027 IT Salary Guide provides the information needed for your tech job search or hiring plans.

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Map Out Your 2027 Strategy for the Chicago Tech Hiring Market

with Expert Insights and Salary Data

Chicago is one of the fastest-growing AI hiring markets in the country. The city ranked third nationally for year-over-year growth in AI-related job postings, with nearly 10,000 openings, as reported by Bisnow. Those roles now reach across finance, healthcare, and education as well as tech, in a market that already contributes a nearly $56 billion economic impact.

 

Motion's 2027 Chicago Tech Salary Guide explains what that demand means for pay, skills, and hiring, with salary data for the top roles in tech.

 

 

5%

above the national average

Chicago software salaries are 5% above the national average.

$111K

average salary for Chicago tech workers

The average base-level salary for all Chicago tech workers is $111,886. 

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Emerging Tech in Chicago

AI Skills Are Now a Baseline Requirement

AI-related job postings passed the full 2025 total by June 2026, according to Avison Young. The demand reaches well beyond engineering, so as more and more tech roles require AI skills, listing tools no longer set a candidate apart. Chicago professionals who can show how they apply AI, check its output, and own the result will have the edge.
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Q: What Advice Would You Give Chicago Tech Job Seekers and Hiring Managers in 2027?

From Max Gerdes, Executive Director of the Chicago Office, Motion Recruitment:

“Chicago's AI hiring has spread across fintech, healthcare, finance, and education, so the skills employers want are broader than a job title suggests. Job seekers should show how AI fits into their workflow from day one and bring examples, demos, or a portfolio that ties their work to a measurable result. Hiring managers should define the AI capabilities each role requires, evaluate how candidates apply them, and give early-career talent supervised ways to learn. A culture of versatility and growth will retain the people that Chicago companies work so hard to hire.”

What will I find in Motion's IT Salary Guide?

What tech job data and trends are covered in the Guide?
  • The state of tech employment in 2027, with the impact of layoffs, economic conditions, and the increase in IT job creation in non-tech companies.
  • The continuing impact of artificial intelligence on the job market, including the full cycle of the AI economy, the need for rehiring after the failure of AI gains, and a lack of ROI for AI projects.

  • Tech hiring and workplace trends, including the pessimism in the tech workforce and the disconnect between workers and management on topics like AI usage and RTO practices.

  • Advice from market experts on what you can do to succeed in 2027.
What valuable insights into IT salary data can I discover?
  • You will find starting salaries for mid- and senior-level ranges for over 100 specific job titles across technology areas. There are also city-specific variances included, which you can use to measure the regional salary ranges per tech job.

  • You will see IT salaries for top roles from the most in-demand technology areas: Software, Data & AI, Security, Infrastructure & DevOps, Mobile, Functional, Product & UX, and Executive.

 

Previous Salary Guides

Tech Salary Guide
North America 2026

Download Guide

Tech Hiring Market
Midyear Update 2025

Download Guide

Tech Salary Guide
North America 2025

Download Guide

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Motion Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What IT job has the highest salary in Chicago?

Based on current data, the BackEnd Developer role commands the highest compensation among the identified positions in the region. In Chicago, mid-level BackEnd Developers earn between $122,228 and $157,021, while senior-level professionals earn between $143,526 and $185,119.

At this moment in the tech industry, specialized development roles continue to drive the upper end of IT salary in the Chicago market. Other high-earning positions include GenAI Developers, with senior salaries reaching $165,081, and general BackEnd roles. Motion Recruitment tracks these metrics to ensure scalability and transparency across the evolving workforce landscape. 

What is a good IT salary in Chicago?

At this moment in the tech industry, specialized roles often command higher premiums. Motion Recruitment data indicates that mid-level GenAI Developers earn between $112,283 and $137,985, while senior-level professionals earn between $129,105 and $165,081.

For those in broader roles, the range for a mid-level IT salary in Chicago for a general developer is $94,909–$124,750, with senior-level compensation spanning $122,532–$150,657. Additionally, mid-level Software Developers earn between $102,057 and $135,083, while senior-level developers earn between $114,305 and $144,718. 

Have IT salaries increased in Chicago in 2027?

At this moment in the tech industry, compensation for technology roles is determined by specialization and experience level. In Chicago, tech salaries increased by 2.1% year-over-year on average.

 

Mid-level GenAI Developers in Chicago earn between $112,283 and $137,985, and senior-level GenAI Developers earn between $129,105 and $165,081.

What entry-level IT jobs pay the most?
At this moment in the tech industry, specialized roles command the highest premiums in Chicago. DevSecOps Engineers earn between $115,115 and $136,492 at the mid-level, while senior-level professionals earn between $142,789 and $200,247. GenAI Developers also show significant impact, with mid-level pay from $112,283 to $137,985 and senior-level pay from $129,105 to $165,081.

While these paths offer high scalability, generalist positions provide a different trajectory. For instance, the salary range for an IT Helpdesk worker in Chicago is $50,533 to $71,549, with senior-level professionals earning between $62,266 and $79,960.