Women in tech in Chicago: groups, events, leaders and companies
Chicago had 21,207 AI-skilled tech workers in June 2026, according to CBRE’s 2026 Scoring Tech Talent report, and is one of the markets where AI talent grew 45% or more in a year.
About 40,370 software developers work in the Chicago metro. CCC Intelligent Solutions, Morningstar, Grubhub, Sprout Social, Motorola Solutions and CME Group are headquartered in the city, and 1871 is the Midwest’s largest tech incubator.
Software developers in the Chicago metro earn a median of $134,380 a year, close to the national median of $135,980, according to BLS data for May 2025. See tech salaries in Chicago.
By Heidi Lee, community manager, OutGeek Women in TechUpdated
Where women work in Chicago tech
Women hold 27.5% of computer and mathematical jobs in the U.S., and the share is not the same in every role.
Tech salaries in Chicago
Chicago pays software developers close to the U.S. median.
Median pay for software developers
U.S. DOLLARS A YEAR · BLS OEWS, MAY 2025Women in U.S. tech
Women in tech organizations in Chicago
Groups based in Chicago or running events in the city, for meeting peers, learning and growing a career.
Chicago Women Developers
Classes and build nights for women at all skill levels, with more than 4,700 members. meetup.com/womandevelopers → NETWORKINGChicago WomenTech
Mixers for women across Chicago tech, from UX and product to founders, with nearly 4,000 members. meetup.com/chicagowomentech → CONFERENCEChicago Women in Tech Conference (ChiWitCon)
Yearly conference for women in tech in Chicago, open to all genders. The 2026 edition took place on October 1. chiwomenintech.com → PYTHONPyLadies Chicago
Monthly events, talks and study groups for women and gender-diverse people in Python. chicago.pyladies.com → STARTUPS1871 WMNtech
Programs and events for women founders and tech leaders at 1871, Chicago’s tech incubator. 1871.com →Notable women in tech in Chicago
Tech leaders who come up again and again in Chicago tech news and events.
Betsy Ziegler
First woman to lead 1871, the Chicago tech incubator that hosts hundreds of early-stage companies.Deepa Sharan
CTO of the Chicago benefits software company. Spoke at ChiWitCon 2026 on hiring and advancing women in tech.Christine Sandman Stone
Former tech leader at McDonald’s, Dell and VW/Audi. Keynote speaker at ChiWitCon 2026.Rocki Howard
Known for expanding access to tech education for underrepresented students. Keynote speaker at ChiWitCon 2026.Notable tech companies in Chicago
From insurance tech and fintech to trading, SaaS and AI.
Software and AI
CCC Intelligent Solutions
Insurance and automotive software, headquartered in Chicago.Sprout Social
Social media software headquartered in Chicago.Tempus AI
AI for healthcare, headquartered in Chicago.Relativity
Legal data software headquartered in Chicago.Jellyvision
Benefits software headquartered in Chicago.Fintech and trading
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OutGeek Women in Tech in Chicago
We run two recruiting events in Chicago every year, where hiring teams meet women in tech in person. Companies at our past Chicago events include CCC Intelligent Solutions, Chime, Chamberlain Group, Threeflow, McMaster-Carr, Fooda and Basis Technologies. We’re looking for an event director in Chicago.
Each event features short talks from hiring teams, speed networking with recruiters and engineering leads, and open networking with food and drinks.
CCC Intelligent Solutions
Chime
Chamberlain Group
Threeflow
McMaster-Carr
Fooda
Basis Technologies
Upcoming OutGeek events in Chicago
Women in tech in Chicago: common questions
What is the women in tech scene like in Chicago?
Chicago had 21,207 AI-skilled tech workers in June 2026 and about 40,370 software developers. Women hold 27.5% of computer and mathematical jobs in the U.S. Chicago has groups for coding, networking, Python and startups, and a yearly women in tech conference, ChiWitCon.
What percentage of tech workers in Chicago are women?
Across the U.S., women hold 27.5% of computer and mathematical jobs, according to BLS data for 2025. The share is higher in UX/UI design and product management, and lower in core infrastructure, DevOps and senior engineering.
Where women work in Chicago tech →How much do tech workers earn in Chicago?
Software developers in the Chicago metro earn a median of $134,380 a year, according to BLS data for May 2025, close to the U.S. median of $135,980.
Tech salaries in Chicago →Is there a gender pay gap in U.S. tech?
Yes. Women working full time in U.S. computer and mathematical jobs earned a median of $1,828 a week in 2025, 85.5% of the $2,138 men earned, according to BLS.
Women in U.S. tech →What women in tech groups are there in Chicago?
Groups in Chicago include Chicago Women Developers, Chicago WomenTech, PyLadies Chicago and 1871 WMNtech. The Chicago Women in Tech Conference (ChiWitCon) runs every year.
All Chicago women in tech groups →Are there women in tech events in Chicago?
Yes. OutGeek Women in Tech runs two recruiting events in Chicago every year, where hiring teams meet women in tech in person. ChiWitCon is held every fall, and Chicago WomenTech and Chicago Women Developers hold regular meetups.
Tech recruiting events by city →What is OutGeek Women in Tech Chicago?
OutGeek Women in Tech runs recruiting events where hiring teams meet women in tech in person. Our Chicago community has more than 4,000 members, and we run two recruiting events in Chicago every year. Companies at our past Chicago events include CCC Intelligent Solutions, Chime and McMaster-Carr. Joining is free at outgeek.org.
About OutGeek Women in Tech in Chicago →Which tech companies are notable in Chicago?
Chicago tech employers include CCC Intelligent Solutions, Sprout Social, Tempus AI and Relativity in software, Morningstar, CME Group and Enova in fintech and trading, and Grubhub, Groupon and Motorola Solutions.
Company ratings and open roles →Who are notable women in tech in Chicago?
Women who appear often in Chicago tech news and events include Betsy Ziegler (1871), Deepa Sharan (Jellyvision), Christine Sandman Stone (Deliver at Scale) and Rocki Howard (The Humanity Practice).
Notable women in tech in Chicago →