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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Intermediate Software Engineer in Illinois is $107,200 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.
However, an Intermediate Software Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Intermediate Software Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $119,600 | $9,967 | $2,300 | $58 |
| Average | $107,200 | $8,933 | $2,062 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $100,700 | $8,392 | $1,937 | $48 |
Seneca Holdings - Rock Island Arsenal, IL
Jorie AI - Oak Brook, IL
Dover Corporation - Downers Grove, IL
Sales Demo Master Client - WFN4.0 - Chicago, IL
An Intermediate Software Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Intermediate Software Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Software Engineer | 0-2 years | $83,232 |
| Intermediate Software Engineer | 2-4 years | $107,112 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 4-7 years | $131,174 |
| Software Developer IV | 7+ years | $151,762 |
| Software Developer V | 7-10 years | $174,462 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Intermediate Software Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Intermediate Software Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $120,004. While startup companies pay approximate $101,521.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $101,521 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $107,370 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $115,885 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $120,004 |
For Intermediate Software Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Intermediate Software Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Intermediate Software Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | $139,360 | $67.0 | 30% |
| Internet | $134,000 | $64.0 | 25% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $128,640 | $62.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $123,280 | $59.0 | 15% |
| Biotechnology | $117,920 | $57.0 | 10% |
Understanding how an Intermediate Software Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $119,600 | $9,967 | $2,300 | $58 |
| Average | $107,200 | $8,933 | $2,062 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $100,700 | $8,392 | $1,937 | $48 |
For an Intermediate Software Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Senior Software Engineer role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $131,200 - a projected growth of 22% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Intermediate Software Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Dover Fueling Solutions
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Dover Fueling Solutions | Downers Grove, IL
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Chicago, IL
Midtown Athletic Clubs | Chicago, IL
Midtown is seeking a Software Engineer to join our world-class team at our Chicago headquarters. The team is based in our HQ office in Chicago (3611 N Kedz... more
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247Hire
Chicago, IL
247Hire | Chicago, IL
Chicago Remote Hourly salary: $70 - $75 Job Description Job Description – Own the React application architecture end-to-end: project structure, component s... more
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VIEWS
Chicago, IL
VIEWS | Chicago, IL
Software Engineer Full-Time Chicago, IL Our talented development team is ready to expand and is looking for a Software Engineer who can shine on the back-e... more
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Kranze Technology Solutions, Inc
Des Plaines, IL
Kranze Technology Solutions, Inc | Des Plaines, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Kranze Technology Solutions develops complex, customized cutting edge aircraft avionics hardware and software solutions s... more
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