Technology Chicago, IL Pop. 2,693,976

DevOps Engineer Salary in Chicago, Illinois

The median devops engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $142,016 per year, which is 12.0% above the national median and 12.0% above the Illinois state average.

City Median
$142,016
vs State Avg
+$15,216
vs National
+$15,216
Cost of Living
107%

DevOps Engineer Pay in Chicago: What to Expect (2026)

Chicago offers a median devops engineer salary of $142,016, which is $15,216 above the Illinois state average of $126,800. Compared to the national median of $126,800, Chicago pays above average for this role.

Chicago's cost of living is 107% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for devops engineers in Chicago spans from $89,824 at the 10th percentile to $218,400 at the 90th percentile — a $128,576 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $91,840, while senior devops engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $199,360. As a major metro area with a population of 2,693,976, Chicago typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

DevOps Engineer Salary in Chicago by Experience

In Chicago, an entry-level devops engineer earns around $91,840, while experienced professionals earn up to $199,360 per year. The local cost of living index is 107% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$91,840
+$9,840 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$143,360
+$15,360 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$199,360
+$21,360 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Chicago, IL

Percentile Chicago
10th Percentile $89,824
25th Percentile $114,240
Median (50th) $142,016
75th Percentile $179,200
90th Percentile $218,400

DevOps Engineer Salary in Other Illinois Cities

Naperville, IL
$143,284
Pop. 149,540
Aurora, IL
$126,800
Pop. 197,757
Springfield, IL
$114,120
Pop. 114,394
Rockford, IL
$110,316
Pop. 148,655

How to Become a DevOps Engineer in Chicago

Education

Most devops engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Chicago and the surrounding Illinois area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

AWS/Azure/GCPDockerKubernetesTerraformLinuxCI/CD

Job Outlook

Nationally, devops engineer employment is projected to grow 22% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Chicago may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find DevOps Engineer Jobs in Chicago

Browse open devops engineer positions in Chicago, IL:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: DevOps Engineer Salary in Chicago

How much does a DevOps Engineer make in Chicago, IL? ▼
The median devops engineer salary in Chicago, Illinois is $142,016 per year, which is 12.0% above the national median of $126,800. Salaries range from $89,824 (10th percentile) to $218,400 (90th percentile).
How much does a DevOps Engineer make per hour in Chicago? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $142,016, a devops engineer in Chicago earns approximately $68 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Chicago compare to the Illinois state average for devops engineer pay? ▼
Chicago's median devops engineer salary of $142,016 is 12.0% above the Illinois state average of $126,800. The local cost of living index is 107% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Chicago, IL? ▼
Chicago has a cost of living index of 107% compared to the national average. This means a devops engineer salary of $142,016 in Chicago has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a devops engineer in Chicago? ▼
Most devops engineer positions in Chicago require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include AWS/Azure/GCP, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform. The job market is projected to grow 22% nationally over the next decade.