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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Backend Software Engineer in Illinois is $130,712 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.
However, a Backend Software Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Backend Software Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $141,914 | $11,826 | $2,729 | $68 |
| Average | $130,712 | $10,893 | $2,514 | $63 |
| 25th Percentile | $120,412 | $10,034 | $2,316 | $58 |
Paylocity - Schaumburg, IL
Turnitin, LLC - Chicago, IL
LUDEX, LLC - Chicago, IL
Ubiety - Chicago, IL
A Backend 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 a Backend 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Software ... Level Backend Software Engineer | $82,416 |
| Software ... Level Backend Software Engineer | $106,062 |
| Backend S... Level Backend Software Engineer | $129,888 |
| Software ... Level Backend Software Engineer | $150,274 |
| Software ... Level Backend Software Engineer | $172,753 |
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 Backend 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:
For Backend Software Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 27% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 14% above the average. In contrast, Backend Software Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Backend Software Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy & Utilities | $149,012 | $72.0 | 14% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $146,397 | $70.0 | 12% |
| Internet | $145,090 | $70.0 | 11% |
| Biotechnology | $143,783 | $69.0 | 10% |
| Software & Networking | $142,476 | $68.0 | 9% |
Understanding how a Backend 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 | $141,914 | $11,826 | $2,729 | $68 |
| Average | $130,712 | $10,893 | $2,514 | $63 |
| 25th Percentile | $120,412 | $10,034 | $2,316 | $58 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Backend Software Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Hubstaff
Lemont, IL
Hubstaff | Lemont, IL
Were a remote, product-focused startup building AI- and algorithm-driven systems, and were looking for a strong Backend Django Engineer who loves clean dat... more
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Chicago, IL
NinjaTrader | Chicago, IL
A leading trading platform company is seeking a Senior Software Engineer II to design and develop backend systems using Scala.The role requires extensive e... more
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Numerator
Chicago, IL
Numerator | Chicago, IL
A leading market research company is seeking a talented Backend Python Engineer for their Chicago office.You will design and maintain scalable RESTful APIs... more
5 Days Ago
Devsu
Peru, IL
Devsu | Peru, IL
A tech company is seeking a skilled Backend Engineer to develop scalable systems focused on Python and Flask.The position requires strong API development s... more
5 Days Ago
Jorie AI
Oak Brook, IL
Jorie AI | Oak Brook, IL
Software Engineer. We are seeking a Python Senior Software Engineer to build and maintain intelligent automation solutions focused on Revenue Cycle Managem... more
4 Days Ago
Sales Demo Master Client - WFN4.0
Chicago, IL
Sales Demo Master Client - WFN4.0 | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Job Responsibilities. Develops information systems by designing, developing, and installing software solutions. Determine... more
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