State comparison · 2025
Software Developers salary: California vs Illinois
Software Developers in California earn a median of $174,410. In Illinois, $132,110. After cost-of-living, the gap is 19.3% — not 32%.
Nominal pay gap
+32%
California vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
+19.3%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Software Developers
- Median
- $174,410
- p25
- $136,990
- p75
- $216,670
- p10
- $105,060
- p90
- $272,670
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- 0%
Illinois
Software Developers
- Median
- $132,110
- p25
- $101,540
- p75
- $166,420
- p10
- $80,980
- p90
- $194,740
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -43%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.