How much does a Programmer make in Illinois?

As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for a Programmer in Illinois is around $80,234, with an hourly rate of $39, according to Salary.com Global Salary IQ data . This number represents the median. The average salary ranges from $71,786 (25th percentile) to $89,930 (75th percentile). A Programmer's salary is shaped by several key factors, including experience level, specific skills, industry differences, company size, and cost-of-living adjustments based on location. Below, we’ll dive deeper into each of these factors to help you understand how they impact compensation.

Use our Salary Calculator to estimate your income potential based on location, experience, education and more.

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Programmer Salaries by Percentile
Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $89,930 $7,494 $1,729 $43
Average $80,234 $6,686 $1,543 $39
25th Percentile $71,786 $5,982 $1,381 $35

Average Salary

25% $71,786 10% $64,095 90% $98,758 75% $89,930 $80,234 50%(Median)
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What is the hourly rate of a Programmer?

$71,786
Average
$80,234/year
$89,930
$5,982
Average
$6,686/month
$7,494
$1,381
Average
$1,543/week
$1,729
$35
Average
$39/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $89,930 $7,494 $1,729 $43
Average $80,234 $6,686 $1,543 $39
25th Percentile $71,786 $5,982 $1,381 $35
Use our Salary Calculator to explore typical earnings for a Programmer, including an hourly rate of $39, weekly pay of $1,543, monthly pay of $6,686, and an annual salary of $80,234. Based on Salary IQ data from real job postings, this tool helps you convert a salary between its hourly, weekly, biweekly, monthly, and annually.

What is the pay difference between an Entry Programmer and an Expert Programmer?

Experience and job level are key drivers of a Programmer's salary. Entry Programmers earn around $79,604, while Intermediate Programmers make $80,524. Senior Programmers see salaries rise to $82,694, and Expert Programmers can earn up to $83,418. These numbers show a clear trend: as experience grows, so does earning potential. This reflects the IT industry's strong value placed on experience level.
Levels Salary
Entry Level Programmer $79,604
Intermediate Level Programmer $80,524
Senior Level Programmer $82,694
Specialist Level Programmer $83,128
Expert Level Programmer $83,418
$79,604 0 yr
$80,524 < 2 yrs
$82,694 2-4 yrs
$83,128 5-8 yrs
$83,418 > 8 yrs
Entry Level 1%
Mid Level 0%
Senior Level 3%
Top Level 4%
Experienced 4%
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What state pays the most for Programmers?

From April 01, 2026, District of Columbia offers the highest Programmer salaries in the United States, ranging from $77,977 to $97,685 followed by California at $77,681 - $97,315. While these states provide top pay for Programmer, high living costs impact earnings. Rhode Island and Hawaii offer competitive salaries with lower expenses, making them attractive options for the role.
Rank State Average Salary
1 District of Columbia $87,153
2 California $86,823
3 Massachusetts $85,665
4 Washington $85,351
5 New Jersey $85,319
6 Alaska $85,209
7 Connecticut $84,123
8 New York $83,682
9 Hawaii $82,273
10 Rhode Island $81,612

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