Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,740 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Chicago earn between $48,320 and $76,580.
- $48K10th
- $48K25th
- $59KMedian
- $77K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,720 | $5,310 | $30.63 |
| Median | $58,800 | $4,900 | $28.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,320 | $4,027 | $23.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,580 | $6,382 | $36.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($63,050) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $63,720 | $58,800 | $47,620 | $85,740 | 1,040 |
| Illinois | $63,050 | $58,240 | $45,760 | $88,040 | 1,310 |
| United States | $70,740 | $66,150 | $46,260 | $99,710 | 103,700 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $63,720, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $50,366 a year, or $4,197 a month and $1,937 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $51,497 | $4,291 |
| Working in IL | $50,366 | $4,197 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $63,720 buys what about $61,509 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 4 Illinois metro areas for this job; Rockford pays the most ($71,730).
Highest-paying cities for architectural and civil drafters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($93,870).
- San Jose, CA$93,870
- Lake Charles, LA$90,720
- San Francisco, CA$89,290
- Denver, CO$83,770
- Rochester, MN$83,220
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Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Chicago: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Chicago?
$30.63 an hour on average, and $28.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Chicago?
About $50,366 a year ($4,197 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,720.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($70,740).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-3011; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
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