Software Engineering Bootcamps Chicago, IL

Software Engineering skills are in-demand in the Chicago area. Chicago is considered a Midwest tech hub, and the area boasts a tech workforce of 106,000 across multiple industries. The area’s tech sector is strong and has grown by 18% over the last 10 years, according to the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Some of this growth is fueled by the tech startup ecosystem and the STEM talent pool, both of which are some of the largest in the country. Notable companies like Grubhub and Braintree originated in Chicago and still have headquarters and a sizable workforce in the area.

In addition to smaller startups and midsize tech companies, the Chicago area also benefits from the high number of big tech satellite offices. Google, Meta, and Amazon AWS all have offices in the area. These companies and others across various industries hire locally for some of the most in-demand Engineering and Development positions, like Machine Learning Specialists, DevOps Engineers, and Full Stack Developers. Those with skills in cloud computing, AI and Machine Learning, and Web and Mobile Application Development will find that their skill sets are particularly highly prized in Chicago.

Best Chicago Industries for Software Engineers

The tech industry is still the top employer for Software Engineering professionals in the Chicago area. Those with Engineering and Development skills can find themselves working for some of the world’s most well-known companies, like Amazon, Microsoft, or Google, or they can help to build a new startup’s products and services from the ground up. Companies in the tech industry are looking to hire those with all levels of experience, meaning that someone just starting their career can find options, and those looking to move into senior positions will also be able to find roles that suit their needs.

Chicago is known as a Finance industry hub. About 30% of Chicago’s workforce is employed in Finance, and the area is one of the most competitive financial markets in the world. Finance is also an industry that actively hires Software Engineering professionals. Having the ability to work on Back-End applications and systems and also work with Machine Learning models is especially valued within this industry, as financial service companies are looking to exploit the ability of AI to do risk management and predictive modeling.

Two other important industries in Chicago for Software Engineering professionals are Healthcare and Manufacturing. Healthcare is a major industry not only in Chicago but in the U.S., and Healthcare companies need their own software and systems to manage health services, conduct patient care, and store Healthcare data. Those with Software Engineering training can also find a variety of roles within Manufacturing, especially as the industry continues to implement smart manufacturing practices. Companies like Grainger and Caterpillar hire Chicago-based Engineers, Developers, and Analysts to create and maintain Manufacturing software, work on optimizing product performance, and manage their supply chains.

Top Software Engineering Careers & Salaries in Chicago

Many Software Engineering careers in Chicago are experiencing rapid growth. Machine Learning skills are especially in-demand in the area, and the roles for those with cloud computing and DevOps experience are also growing. Tech salaries in Chicago are high and on par with national averages for these careers. The cost of living in Chicago is also relatively low compared to other leading tech hubs like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York.

• Software Engineer: Software Engineers design software systems and applications. In Chicago, the average annual salary for a Software Engineer is around $122,000, according to Indeed. This salary can range from $80,000 to $184,000.
• Full Stack Developer: Full Stack Developers are responsible for designing both the Back-End and the Front-End of websites and applications. Full Stack Developers in Chicago make around $127,000 a year, according to Indeed. The salary for this career can range from $83,000 to $192,000.
• Data Scientist: Data Scientists collect, interpret, and visualize data to solve complex problems. In Chicago, a Data Scientist makes around $113,000 a year. Indeed shows that the salary of a Data Scientist can range from $75,000 to $169,000.
• DevOps Engineer: DevOps Engineers combine Software Engineering and IT skills to deploy and maintain applications and systems. DevOps Engineers in Chicago earn an average annual salary of $123,000. This salary ranges from a low of $80,000 to a high of $175,000, according to Built In.
• Machine Learning Engineer: Like Software Engineers, Machine Learning Engineers also design systems, but ones particular to AI and Machine Learning models. Machine Learning Engineers earn around $157,000 a year in Chicago. Indeed’s reports show that this salary can range from $92,000 all the way up to $269,000. The high and variable salary range for this position shows how in-demand ML Engineers are; with the right background and experience, they can earn a higher-than-average salary at some of the leading tech companies in the area.

Chicago Companies Hiring Software Engineers

• JPMorgan Chase: Banking company JPMorgan Chase has a large presence in the Chicago area. Its Chicago workforce is currently 14,000 strong, and they consistently have a need for Software Engineers and Full Stack Developers to join their team and work on their technology services and products.
• Expedia: Expedia is an online travel company that also maintains an office in Chicago. They hire local Engineers, Analysts, and Technicians for their various products and data analysis needs.
• Google: Many tech companies also have offices in Chicago, including tech giant Google. Google employs around 1,800 people to work on its various products and services in the Chicago area. They hire those with Engineering and Development experience to work on their cloud platform, perform Data Analytics, and modernize their systems and applications.
• Braintree Payments: Braintree is an ecommerce digital payments company headquartered in Chicago. They are one of many Chicago startup success stories, and they now operate in over 45 countries while still maintaining a sizable workforce in the area. They hire Software Engineers to work on their payment platforms and services, and to help develop payment services at PayPal, which now owns Braintree.
• Sprout Social: Sprout Social is a social media management company headquartered in Chicago. They hire locally for a variety of Engineering roles, especially AI and Machine Learning Specialists and Back-End Developers.

Current Trends & Future Outlook for Software Engineering in Chicago

The current job outlook for Software Engineering professionals in Chicago remains strong. The city boasts high-paying salaries for tech professionals, and its tech and startup ecosystem continues to bring in new funding and create new jobs. The area also has major investments and developments that signal a bright future. PsiQuantum is planning to build a $9 billion quantum computing campus in Chicago and will be partnering with tech companies like IBM and area universities, including the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, for quantum computing research projects. This is projected to create hundreds of new jobs in the area and promises to turn Chicago into a quantum computing hub, which will benefit those with Software Engineering training.

AI, Machine Learning, and cloud computing continue to be large growth areas in Chicago. Companies, in particular, are seeking those with Machine Learning training, which has seen an estimated 383% growth in-demand in recent years. Cloud computing also remains in-demand as companies seek professionals who can develop digital storage systems using platforms like Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS. The expansion within these sectors creates opportunities for Engineers and Developers with training in these emerging technologies, as companies and organizations will continue to look for ways to exploit new technological innovations to bolster their performance.