Competitive Base Pay Jobs in Chicago, IL

Junior: $80k-$110k; Mid‑Level: $110k-$150k; Senior: $150k-$200k; Lead: $200k-$250k; Principal: $250k-$300k+. Ranges shift 10-15% higher in tech hubs like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York, and can dip 5-10% in smaller markets.

Core coding fluency in Python, Java, Go, or Rust; cloud proficiency with AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Fundamentals, or GCP Associate Cloud Engineer; container & orchestration expertise in Kubernetes, Helm, and Docker; CI/CD mastery with GitHub Actions, ArgoCD, or Jenkins; security credentials such as CISSP, CompTIA Security+, or AWS Certified Security Specialty; data science certifications like TensorFlow Developer or AWS Certified Data Analytics.

Over 70% of listings allow fully remote work, especially in cloud, DevOps, AI/ML, and security. Hybrid models typically require 1‑2 on‑site days per week, while some on‑prem roles still mandate on‑site presence for compliance or infrastructure maintenance.

Typical ladder: Junior → Mid‑Level → Senior → Lead → Principal. Engineers may transition into Solution Architecture, Technical Program Management, or Security Leadership. Product Managers often move to Senior PM, Director, or VP of Product. Continuous learning and impact on revenue or scale are key promotion drivers.

Demand is rising for AI/ML specialists, serverless architects, and edge‑computing engineers. Cloud‑native technologies like Kubernetes, Terraform, and GitOps are premium. Cybersecurity remains a high‑pay niche, especially for threat‑intel and cloud‑security roles. Remote hiring and diversity initiatives further push salary parity and transparency.