Competitive Wages Jobs in Chicago, IL

Entry‑level (0–2 years) $90k–$110k; mid‑level (3–5 years) $120k–$150k; senior (6–10 years) $170k–$210k; lead/architect (10+ years) $200k–$260k; executive (CTO/VP) $250k–$350k.

Core skills: Kubernetes, Terraform, AWS, Azure, GCP, CI/CD, Python, SQL, ML frameworks. Certifications: AWS Certified Solutions Architect, GCP Professional Cloud Architect, Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CISSP for security roles.

Yes, 80% of listings offer full‑remote or hybrid options. Companies such as GitLab, Red Hat, and Atlassian provide flexible work arrangements and global collaboration tools.

Typical ladder: Engineer → Senior Engineer → Lead Engineer → Engineering Manager → Director of Engineering → VP of Engineering → CTO. Alternatively, pivot to specialized tracks like AI Ops, security architecture, or product strategy, each with its own milestones and leadership opportunities.

Key trends: AI/ML ops integration, serverless and edge computing, quantum‑resistant security, automation of compliance pipelines, and increased demand for cross‑platform observability solutions. These trends drive higher compensation for specialists who master emerging tools.