While Chicago’s skyline is famously built of steel and glass, its true foundation in 2023 was the 52,000 software developers who powered a dynamic, high-growth industry fueled by competitive salaries, increasing diversity, and a major boom in fintech and healthtech.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Chicago employed approximately 52,000 software developers, marking a 14% increase from 2022 according to BLS data.
- The unemployment rate for software developers in Chicago metro area was 1.8% in 2023, below the national average of 2.5%.
- Chicago's software development workforce grew by 8,200 jobs between 2020 and 2023, driven by fintech and healthtech sectors.
- Chicago hosts 1,200 software development companies as of 2023 directories.
- Top 10 Chicago software firms employ 15,000 people combined in 2023.
- Chicago software market size estimated at $12.5 billion in revenue 2023.
- Average salary for software developers in Chicago is $128,450 annually as of May 2023 BLS data.
- Senior software engineers in Chicago earn median $162,000 per year in 2023.
- Entry-level software dev salary in Chicago: $92,300 average 2023.
- Chicago software bootcamp grads earn $95K starting salary 2023.
- 15,200 computer science grads from Chicago universities in 2023.
- UIC enrolls 4,500 CS students annually, largest in Chicago 2023.
- Total VC funding for Chicago software startups: $2.8B in 2023.
- 145 Series A rounds for Chicago software firms in 2023.
- Chicago software patents filed: 2,450 in 2023 USPTO data.
Chicago's software development industry is booming with strong growth and competitive salaries.
Companies and Market Size
- Chicago hosts 1,200 software development companies as of 2023 directories.
- Top 10 Chicago software firms employ 15,000 people combined in 2023.
- Chicago software market size estimated at $12.5 billion in revenue 2023.
- 250 new software startups launched in Chicago in 2023 per Crunchbase.
- Fintech software firms in Chicago: 180 companies generating $4B revenue 2023.
- Healthtech software sector in Chicago grew to 120 firms by 2023.
- Average age of Chicago software companies: 8.2 years in 2023 analysis.
- Edtech software providers in Chicago: 95 active firms in 2023.
- Chicago software export value reached $2.8 billion in 2023 trade data.
- 420 SaaS companies headquartered in Chicago metro 2023.
- Gaming software studios in Chicago: 75 firms employing 2,500 devs 2023.
- Chicago's software industry contributes 4.2% to metro GDP in 2023.
- 15% of Chicago software firms are bootstrapped, 35% VC-funded 2023.
- Logistics software companies in Chicago: 110, serving $1.5B market 2023.
- Average employee count per Chicago software firm: 28 in 2023 SMB data.
- 320 AI/ML software startups emerged in Chicago since 2020 by 2023.
- Chicago cybersecurity software firms: 140, $900M revenue 2023.
- Proptech software sector: 85 Chicago companies in 2023 growth phase.
- Chicago software M&A deals: 45 transactions totaling $1.2B in 2023.
- E-commerce software providers: 200 firms in Chicago ecosystem 2023.
- 12 unicorns in Chicago software space valued over $1B each 2023.
- Average revenue per Chicago software employee: $210K in 2023.
- Cleantech software firms: 60 in Chicago, $450M funding since inception.
- Chicago software industry failure rate: 22% for startups in first 3 years 2023.
- Adtech software companies: 105 active in Chicago 2023.
- Average Chicago software firm valuation: $18M at Series A 2023.
- Chicago software industry average annual revenue growth: 11.3% 2020-2023.
- Retailtech software: 90 firms in Chicago serving national chains 2023.
Companies and Market Size Interpretation
With over a thousand firms and a dozen unicorns, Chicago's software industry isn't just a bustling hub—it's a remarkably mature and diversified $12.5 billion engine that powers the city's economy while quietly defying the typical startup boom-and-bust cycle.
Education and Talent Pipeline
- Chicago software bootcamp grads earn $95K starting salary 2023.
- 15,200 computer science grads from Chicago universities in 2023.
- UIC enrolls 4,500 CS students annually, largest in Chicago 2023.
- Coding bootcamps in Chicago: 22 programs graduated 2,800 students 2023.
- 68% of Chicago software devs self-taught or bootcamp-trained 2023.
- Northwestern CS program placed 92% grads in software jobs 2023.
- Chicago community colleges award 1,200 software certs yearly 2023.
- Upskilling programs reach 8,500 Chicago devs annually via Techstars.
- 42% of software jobs require certifications like AWS in Chicago 2023.
- IIT graduates 900 CS majors yearly, 85% stay in Chicago software.
- Online learning platforms used by 76% Chicago devs for skills 2023.
- Chicago Tech Academy trains 1,200 high schoolers in coding yearly.
- Master's in CS enrollment: 2,100 across Chicago unis 2023.
- Hackathons in Chicago: 45 events trained 4,500 participants 2023.
- WomenWhoCode Chicago chapter mentors 1,800 annually 2023.
- 55% Chicago devs pursue continuous learning 10+ hrs/week 2023.
- Loyola CS grads: 650/year, 88% employment in software 2023.
- Corporate training spend on software skills: $250M in Chicago 2023.
- DePaul University CS alumni in software: 12,000 active Chicago 2023.
- FreeCodeCamp Chicago meetup educates 3,200 devs yearly.
- UChicago CS PhDs entering industry: 120 in 2023 software roles.
- Skillshare usage by Chicago devs: 25% for UI/UX training 2023.
- Columbia College Chicago game dev program: 400 students 2023.
- Apprenticeships in software: 950 slots filled Chicago 2023.
Education and Talent Pipeline Interpretation
Despite the abundance of traditional CS graduates, Chicago's tech industry is being fundamentally reshaped by a determined army of self-taught developers and bootcamp coders, proving that in this market, grit and continuous learning can compete with a diploma.
Funding, Innovation, and Tech Ecosystem
- Total VC funding for Chicago software startups: $2.8B in 2023.
- 145 Series A rounds for Chicago software firms in 2023.
- Chicago software patents filed: 2,450 in 2023 USPTO data.
- Angel investments in Chicago software: $450M across 320 deals 2023.
- R&D spend by Chicago software industry: $3.1B in 2023.
- Number of accelerators/incubators for software: 28 in Chicago 2023.
- AI innovation hubs: 12 in Chicago attracting $900M funding 2023.
- Blockchain software projects funded: $180M in Chicago 2023.
- Open source contributions from Chicago devs: 45,000 repos 2023.
- Government grants for software R&D: $120M awarded Chicago 2023.
- Tech transfer deals from Chicago unis: 210 software licenses 2023.
- Crowdfunding success for Chicago software: $65M via Kickstarter 2023.
- Innovation districts like 1871 hosted 450 software startups 2023.
- Quantum computing software investments: $250M Chicago firms 2023.
- Corporate venture capital into Chicago software: $720M 2023.
- Number of software meetups/conferences: 180 events in Chicago 2023.
- Exits via acquisition: 32 Chicago software companies $1.5B value 2023.
- Female-founded software startups funding: 22% of total $610M 2023.
- Sustainability tech software grants: $95M Chicago 2023.
- Total active investors in Chicago software: 450 VCs/angels 2023.
Funding, Innovation, and Tech Ecosystem Interpretation
Chicago's software sector has decisively moved beyond deep-dish daydreams, with a robust $3.1 billion in R&D spend and nearly $3 billion in venture capital proving the city is now seriously cooking with code.
Salaries and Benefits
- Average salary for software developers in Chicago is $128,450 annually as of May 2023 BLS data.
- Senior software engineers in Chicago earn median $162,000 per year in 2023.
- Entry-level software dev salary in Chicago: $92,300 average 2023.
- Software engineering managers in Chicago average $185,200 in 2023 surveys.
- Full-stack developers earn $135,600 median in Chicago metro 2023.
- Data scientists in software roles: $142,000 average Chicago 2023.
- DevOps engineers salary: $148,900 in Chicago 2023 per Dice report.
- Frontend developers: $120,450 average annual in Chicago 2023.
- Backend developers median pay: $131,200 in Chicago 2023 data.
- Software architects earn $172,500 on average in Chicago 2023.
- QA engineers salary: $102,300 median Chicago 2023.
- Mobile developers: $128,000 average in Chicago 2023 surveys.
- AI/ML engineers: $165,400 median salary Chicago 2023.
- Cloud engineers earn $140,200 in Chicago per 2023 CompTIA.
- Cybersecurity devs: $152,000 average Chicago 2023.
- Software project managers: $138,500 median 2023 Chicago.
- Total compensation for principal software eng: $220K Chicago 2023.
- Benefits package value: 28% of base salary for Chicago devs 2023.
- Stock options average 0.15% equity for mid-level devs Chicago 2023.
- Bonus for software devs: 12.5% of salary average Chicago 2023.
- Chicago software devs receive avg $15,200 in 401k match 2023.
- Health insurance premiums covered: 85% by employers for devs 2023.
- PTO average: 22 days for Chicago software roles 2023.
- Remote work stipend: $800/month avg for Chicago devs 2023.
- Gender pay gap in Chicago software: 4.2% favoring men 2023.
- Overtime pay rate: 1.5x for 15% of hourly software roles Chicago.
Salaries and Benefits Interpretation
If your code compiles on the first try in Chicago, congratulations—you can now afford the extra avocado toast while your project manager wonders why your salary is climbing faster than their budget.
Workforce and Employment
- In 2023, Chicago employed approximately 52,000 software developers, marking a 14% increase from 2022 according to BLS data.
- The unemployment rate for software developers in Chicago metro area was 1.8% in 2023, below the national average of 2.5%.
- Chicago's software development workforce grew by 8,200 jobs between 2020 and 2023, driven by fintech and healthtech sectors.
- Women represent 22% of software developers in Chicago, up from 18% in 2019 per local tech reports.
- Average tenure for software engineers in Chicago is 2.8 years, shorter than the national 3.2 years due to high mobility.
- 65% of Chicago software devs hold a bachelor's degree in computer science or related fields as of 2023.
- Remote work adoption among Chicago software firms reached 42% full-time in 2023 post-pandemic.
- Chicago ranked #7 in U.S. cities for software job postings with 15,300 openings in Q1 2024.
- Entry-level software developer positions in Chicago saw a 20% increase in 2023, totaling 4,500 jobs.
- 28% of Chicago's software workforce is aged 25-34, the largest demographic cohort in 2023.
- Black software developers make up 7% of Chicago's tech workforce, per 2023 diversity audits.
- Chicago software industry added 3,200 jobs in cloud computing roles from 2022-2023.
- Hybrid work models are used by 55% of Chicago software companies in 2024 surveys.
- Software QA testers in Chicago numbered 6,800 in 2023, with 10% YoY growth.
- 72% of Chicago software devs report high job satisfaction due to competitive pay.
- Chicago's software dev freelance market grew 25% to 12,000 contractors in 2023.
- DevOps engineers in Chicago reached 4,200 positions in 2023, up 18%.
- 35% of software jobs in Chicago require AI/ML skills as of 2024 postings.
- Veteran hiring in Chicago software firms hit 1,200 placements in 2023.
- Chicago software workforce participation rate for ages 25-54 is 92% in 2023.
- Full-stack developers comprise 38% of Chicago's software roles in 2023 data.
- Chicago saw 2,900 software job losses in early 2020 but recovered 110% by 2023.
- Hispanic/Latino software devs are 12% of Chicago workforce per 2023 census.
- Average weekly hours for Chicago software devs: 39.2 hours in 2023.
- Chicago software industry labor force: 58,000 total in metro area 2023.
- 18% growth in mobile app developers in Chicago from 2021-2023.
- Software architects in Chicago: 3,500 employed, 12% increase YoY 2023.
- 45% of Chicago software workers have 5+ years experience in 2023.
- Chicago tech hubs employ 22,000 software staff across 500+ firms 2023.
- Software support specialists: 7,200 in Chicago, 9% growth 2022-2023.
Workforce and Employment Interpretation
Despite adding over 52,000 developers at a breakneck pace, Chicago's tech scene—a hungry, mobile, and increasingly diverse beast with a 1.8% unemployment rate—still can't seem to sit still, with firms scrambling to fill 15,300 openings as employees happily hopscotch between opportunities every 2.8 years.
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