Chicago’s got it all. Great skyline. Deep-dish pizza. Cool history. But guess what? It’s also one of the best tech cities now. From new startups to big companies, everyone wants software engineers.
Do you like coding? Solving problems? Building apps? Chicago might be perfect for you. Good pay. Lots of jobs. And the tech folks here? Super friendly. Let’s check out what these jobs are like. Where to find them. What skills you need. Why this city rocks for your career.
Why Chicago Is Hot for Tech
A few years back, tech meant San Francisco. Or Seattle. Maybe New York. Not anymore. Chicago built something special. Top companies come here. Smart workers too.
Why’s that? Let me tell you:
Life costs less: Way cheaper than New York. Or the Bay Area. You make good money. And actually keep it.
Different types of work: Tech here isn’t just startups. It mixes with banks. Hospitals. Factories. Schools.
Great schools: Northwestern. DePaul. University of Chicago. They pump out smart engineers every year.
People help each other: Tech meetups everywhere. Hackathons too. Co-working spots. Easy to meet other coders. Build your network.
All this makes Chicago awesome for software engineers. Whether you’re starting out. Or growing your career.
What Software Engineers Do Here
Your job depends on the company. But mostly? You build and fix computer programs.
Here’s what your day might look like:
- Write code for new apps
- Fix bugs (you know, broken stuff)
- Design how software works
- Make things look good for users
- Work with designers and managers
- Handle databases and cloud stuff
- Check your teammates’ code
- Test before launch
Some folks do web stuff. Others work on data. Or AI. Maybe cybersecurity. Lots of choices. That’s what’s cool about Chicago tech.
Who’s Hiring Software Engineers?
Chicago’s tech world is huge. Different industries need engineers:
- Banks and Money Apps
Chicago’s always been about finance. CME Group. Morningstar. Discover. Now fintech mixes tech with money. Trading platforms. Banking apps. Payment systems. - Health Tech
Hospitals need engineers badly. Patient data. Medical records. Video doctor visits. Companies like Tempus lead here. - Online Shopping
Grubhub started here. Groupon too. New online stores pop up daily. Engineers build the apps. Shopping systems. Payment stuff. - Cloud and IT
Google’s here. Amazon too. They need engineers for cloud work. Networks. Data management. - Startups
Chicago’s full of new companies. Every field you can think of. Startups love engineers who can do everything.
Big Names Hiring Now
Where should you apply? Try these:
- Google (Cloud and AI teams)
- Amazon Web Services
- Grubhub
- Salesforce
- Morningstar
- Discover
- United Airlines
- Tempus
- Avant
- Relativity
- Uptake
Plus tons of smaller startups. Check Built In Chicago. New jobs pop up daily.
Skills You Need
Want these jobs? You need tech skills. And people skills.
Tech Skills That Matter
Most companies want:
- Code in Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, or Go
- Know databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB)
- Cloud stuff (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- Git for tracking changes
- API work (making systems talk)
- Basic security knowledge
Tools and Frameworks
Depends what you do:
- Web work: React, Angular, Node.js
- Phone apps: Swift, Kotlin, Flutter
- Data stuff: SQL, Spark, Pandas
- DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes
People Skills
Chicago companies care about teamwork:
- Talk clearly
- Solve problems
- Pay attention
- Adapt fast
- Manage your time
Types of Jobs Available
Different levels exist:
- Junior Engineer: Just starting? This is you.
- Mid-Level: Got 2-5 years? More complex work.
- Senior Engineer: Lead projects. Teach others.
- Full Stack: Front and back work.
- Data Engineer: All about data.
- DevOps: Deploy and infrastructure.
- ML Engineer: AI and algorithms.
- Architect: Design big systems.
How Much You’ll Make
Chicago pays well. Really well.
- Entry Level: $80,000 to $100,000
- Mid-Level: $100,000 to $130,000
- Senior: $130,000 to $170,000
- Architect: $160,000+
Plus bonuses. Stock options. Flexible hours.
Where to Find Jobs
Start here:
- LinkedIn Jobs
- Indeed
- Glassdoor
- Built In Chicago (local jobs)
- AngelList (startups)
- Dice (IT focus)
Join groups too. Chicago JavaScript Meetup. PyChicago. Women Who Code Chicago. Meet people. Hear about jobs.
How to Stand Out
Lots apply. Make yours special.
Show your work: GitHub link. Portfolio. Real projects.
Fix your resume: Match what they want.
Write to them: Short letter. Why specifically?
Know the company: What they build. Their values. Their tech.
Meet people: Go to events. Chat leads to interviews.
Work Life in Chicago Tech
Chicago tech is chill. Not flashy like Silicon Valley. People are nice. Down to earth.
Most do hybrid work. Some offices. Some home. Work-life balance? Better than New York. After work? Great food. Art. Sports. Lake views.
Teams work together here. Engineers. Designers. Analysts. Product folks. It’s about teamwork. Not competition.
Also Read: Sr Software Engineer Jobs: What They Do, How to Get One, and Why They Matter
Why Work Here?
- Affordable: Nice apartment. Money left over.
- Easy travel: Trains and buses work great.
- Fun city: Music. Museums. Sports. Festivals.
- Growth: Companies pay for courses.
- Support: Tech groups help newcomers.
Some Tough Parts
Nothing’s perfect:
- Winters are cold. Really cold.
- Top jobs? Lots compete.
- Taxes are kinda high.
But the good stuff? Usually wins.
What’s Next for Chicago Tech?
The future looks bright. Really bright. Tech keeps growing. Google expands. Salesforce too. New startups daily.
Hot fields? AI. Cybersecurity. Cloud computing. Focus there. You’ll have options.
Remote work’s normal now. Live in Chicago. Work anywhere. Best of both worlds.
Chicago isn’t just buildings and sports. It’s alive. Creative. Full of chances. For engineers? One of the best spots to grow.
Got coding skills? Curiosity? Drive? Chicago tech wants you. Big company dreams? Startup life? Both work here.
This city lets you grow. Learn. Make your mark. In tech. In life. Come see what Chicago offers. You might just love it.