Software Systems Engineering Director Salary in Illinois

How much does a Software Systems Engineering Director make in Illinois?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Systems Engineering Director in Illinois is $197,488 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $95.

However, a Software Systems Engineering Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $225,999
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $180,278 to $212,412
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $164,610
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI-Powered Talent
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $180,278 10% $164,610 90% $225,999 75% $212,412 $197,488 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Systems Engineering Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $212,412 $17,701 $4,085 $102
Average $197,488 $16,457 $3,798 $95
25th Percentile $180,278 $15,023 $3,467 $87
Check out Software Systems Engineering Director Job Openings in Illinois
Director of Software Engineering

Path Construction - Arlington Heights, IL

Director Software Engineering

Hobbsnews - Chicago, IL

Director Software Engineering

Capital One National Association - Chicago, IL

Director of Software Engineering

JPMorgan Chase & Co. - Chicago, IL

Search More Software Systems Engineering Director Jobs in Illinois
Select State
Select City in IL
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Software Systems Engineering Director Salaries

A Software Systems Engineering Director'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.

How Experience Level Affects Software Systems Engineering Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Systems Engineering Director'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:

  • Software Systems Engineer V (7-10 years): $168,464
  • Software Systems Engineering Supervisor (10+ years): $141,872
  • Software Systems Engineering Manager (10+ years): $153,774
  • Software Systems Engineering Senior Manager (10+ years): $173,153
  • Software Systems Engineering Director (10+ years): $197,488
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Software Systems Engineer V7-10 years$168,464
Software Systems Engineering Supervisor10+ years$141,872
Software Systems Engineering Manager10+ years$153,774
Software Systems Engineering Senior Manager10+ years$173,153
Software Systems Engineering Director10+ years$197,488
$168,464 Software ...
$141,872 Software ...
$153,774 Software ...
$173,153 Software ...
$197,488 Software ...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Software Systems Engineering Directors

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:

  • Effingham: $173,580
  • Saint Peter: $181,155
  • Salem: $185,650

Software Systems Engineering Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Systems Engineering Director'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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on March 01, 2026
$180,278
Average $197,488/year
$212,412
$15,023
Average $16,457/month
$17,701
$3,467
Average $3,798/week
$4,085
$87
Average $95/hour
$102
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $212,412 $17,701 $4,085 $102
Average $197,488 $16,457 $3,798 $95
25th Percentile $180,278 $15,023 $3,467 $87

Software Systems Engineering Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Software Systems Engineering Director
VP of Software Systems Development
SVP of Software Systems Development

For a Software Systems Engineering Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Software Systems Development role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $258,691 - a projected growth of 31% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Software Systems Engineering Director

Find Your Next Software Systems Engineering Director Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Software Systems Engineering Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Illinois

Cost of Living in Illinois is
1.9% Higher
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job