Web Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL
Web developers in Chicago earn a metro median of about $96,870 a year, above the national median, and much of the hiring sits with banks, trading firms and distributors in the Loop and the Merchandise Mart. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to break in.
Current web developer Openings in Chicago, IL
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Web Developer Work in Chicago
Chicago web work leans toward finance and enterprise software more than consumer startups. Capital One runs an engineering office at 77 W. Wacker in the Loop, BlackRock and Geneva Trading hire front-end developers to build internal trading and investment tools, and Grainger staffs React and Java engineers at the Merchandise Mart even though its headquarters is in Lake Forest. Consulting firms such as Inspire11 place full-stack developers on client projects across downtown.
Most of these jobs are hybrid, usually two to four days a week in the office, so a commute on the L or Metra into the Loop or River North is part of the deal. Current postings also skew toward titles like front-end engineer, full-stack engineer and software engineer rather than "web developer", so search all three.
Top Chicago Employers Hiring Web Developers
These Chicago employers have front-end and full-stack openings posted on their own careers sites:
- Capital One - the bank's Loop office at 77 W. Wacker hires full-stack engineers working in JavaScript, TypeScript and Node.js on AWS.
- Grainger - the industrial distributor hires Java and React engineers at its Merchandise Mart office on a two-day hybrid schedule.
- BlackRock - the asset manager hires React and TypeScript front-end engineers in Chicago for its investment platforms.
- Rewards Network - the restaurant marketing and dining-rewards company hires front-end engineers for its downtown office near the Metra stations.
- Geneva Trading - the Chicago-founded trading firm hires front-end platform developers for its trading tools.
- Inspire11 - the Chicago consulting firm hires full-stack developers in React and modern JavaScript for client projects.
Web Developer Salaries in Chicago
- Entry level: about $70,000 to $80,000 a year for junior front-end and web developers.
- Experienced: roughly $85,000 to $117,000 a year for mid-level full-stack and front-end developers.
- Senior: $120,000 to $150,000 and up; senior and lead engineers at banks and trading firms post ranges reaching $180,000 to $205,000.
These are estimates built from federal wage data for the Chicago metro and pay ranges Chicago employers post under the Illinois pay transparency law. Trading firms and banks pay the most and often add a bonus, consulting and agency work pays less, and React, TypeScript and cloud experience move an offer up fastest.
How to Become a Web Developer in Chicago
Illinois has no state license for web developers, so employers hire on skills and a portfolio. Many developers hold a bachelor's degree in computer science, such as DePaul's BS in Computer Science from its Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media in the Loop. For a lower-cost start, City Colleges of Chicago offers a Web Development Basic Certificate at all seven campuses and a Web Development associate degree at Daley, Malcolm X, Olive-Harvey and Wright colleges. A portfolio of live projects on GitHub matters as much as the credential.
What the Job Involves
Web developers build and maintain websites and web applications. A typical day means writing HTML, CSS and JavaScript or TypeScript, building interface components in a framework like React, connecting the front end to APIs and databases, reviewing teammates' code, fixing bugs across browsers and devices, and shipping updates in short sprints with designers and product managers.
Skills Employers Look For
- JavaScript and TypeScript
- React or another modern front-end framework
- HTML, CSS and responsive design
- A back-end language such as Java, Node.js or Python
- Git, code review and automated testing
- Cloud basics, often AWS
- Clear communication with designers and business teams
Career Path and Advancement
Most Chicago developers start as junior or associate engineers, move to full-stack or senior engineer in three to five years, and then choose between a lead or staff engineer track and engineering management. In this market the ladder often runs through finance: front-end skills that start on a consulting team can lead to platform roles at Loop banks and trading firms, where the top of the pay scale sits.
Related Careers in Chicago
If web development interests you, these related Chicago roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a web developer in Illinois?
No. Illinois does not license web developers. Employers judge you on your portfolio, your code and technical interviews, and some also ask for a degree or equivalent experience.
How much do web developers make in Chicago?
Federal wage data puts the Chicago metro median for web developers at about $96,870 a year, with the middle half earning roughly $79,000 to $117,000. Senior engineers at banks and trading firms post ranges well above that.
Are Chicago web developer jobs remote?
Most current Chicago postings are hybrid rather than fully remote. Grainger and Rewards Network ask for two days a week in the office, and BlackRock asks for at least four.
Can I become a web developer in Chicago without a degree?
Yes, though a degree helps at larger employers. City Colleges of Chicago's Web Development Basic Certificate is 18 credit hours, and a strong portfolio of deployed projects can stand in for a four-year degree at many firms.
What programming language should I learn first for Chicago jobs?
JavaScript, then TypeScript and React. Nearly every front-end and full-stack posting in Chicago asks for them, and many also want a back-end language such as Java or Node.js.
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