Bottom quarter
$122K
Software QA Engineering Salary in Chicago
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median
$152K
Top quarter
$191K
Top 10%
$231K
Adjusted for Chicago at 1.05× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
Software QA Engineering in Chicago pulls a median of $152,250 at mid-career, with a top-quartile band reaching $191,100 and the top 10% at $231,000. Pay in Chicago runs about 5% above the national baseline. $191,100 is what top-quartile Software QA Engineering pay looks like in Chicago. Don't undersell.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$191,100 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$171,675 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$152,250 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real pay data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
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Software QA Engineering elsewhere
Adjacent metros
Read how these numbers are computed →
Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on the company, the level, the stock piece, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.