Entry Level Game Programmer

Entry Level Game Programmer Salary in Illinois

$10.7K

$126.9K

$167.6K

$89,766

/year

$43.16

/hour

Entry Level Game Programmer Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$92,636

Illinois

Illinois

$89,766

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    How much does an Entry Level Game Programmer make in Illinois?

    As of May 28, 2026, the average annual pay for an Entry Level Game Programmer in Illinois is $89,766 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $43.16 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,726/week or $7,480/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $167,641 and as low as $10,659, the majority of Entry Level Game Programmer salaries currently range between $23,300 (25th percentile) to $141,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $161,342 annually in Illinois. The average pay range for an Entry Level Game Programmer varies greatly (by as much as 117700), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

    Illinois ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for Entry Level Game Programmer salaries.

    To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Entry Level Game Programmer jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

    Find your next high paying job as an Entry Level Game Programmer on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Entry Level Game Programmer Jobs in Illinois

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an Entry Level Game Programmer job is above the average in Illinois in Illinois. Topping the list is Chicago, , with Urbana, and Palatine, close behind in the second and third positions. Palatine, beats the average in Illinois by $3,340 (3.7%), and Chicago, furthers that trend with another $5,738 (6.4%) above the $89,766 average.

    With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for Illinois, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as an Entry Level Game Programmer appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

    Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 3% between Chicago, and Barrington, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for an Entry Level Game Programmer role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Chicago

    $95,504

    $45.92

    Urbana

    $93,233

    $44.82

    Palatine

    $93,106

    $44.76

    Cicero

    $93,095

    $44.76

    Champaign

    $92,771

    $44.60

    Rockford

    $92,712

    $44.57

    Arlington Heights

    $92,645

    $44.54

    Naperville

    $92,553

    $44.50

    Quincy

    $92,503

    $44.47

    Barrington

    $92,142

    $44.30

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Entry Level Game Programmer Jobs in Illinois

    Analyzing similar jobs related to the Entry Level Game Programmer job category in Illinois, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $89766 state average for Entry Level Game Programmer jobs.

    Nevertheless Evolution Gaming, Casino Player Development, or Baccarat Dealer may still be interesting positions to explore.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Evolution Gaming

    $68,301

    $32.84

    Casino Player Development

    $50,433

    $24.25

    Baccarat Dealer

    $40,699

    $19.57

    Blackjack Dealer

    $32,300

    $15.53

    Lottery

    $27,132

    $13.04

    About Our Data

    ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

    Infographic detailing Entry Level Game Programmer salary in Illinois as of May 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $23,300 to $161,342 annually, with the Illinois average at $89,766 per year or $43.16 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in Illinois for Entry Level Game Programmer jobs, with Chicago leading at $95,504 annually.