Electrical and Electronics Drafters pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,370 or more. The middle half of electrical and electronics drafters in Chicago earn between $62,820 and $96,540.
- $54K10th
- $63K25th
- $70KMedian
- $97K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,430 | $6,536 | $37.71 |
| Median | $69,500 | $5,792 | $33.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,820 | $5,235 | $30.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,540 | $8,045 | $46.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Electrical and Electronics Drafters pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Electrical and electronics drafters in Chicago earn 6% more than the Illinois average ($74,040) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($81,280). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $76,870.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $78,430 | $69,500 | $53,500 | $100,370 | 140 |
| Illinois | $74,040 | $68,310 | $53,500 | $99,610 | 150 |
| United States | $81,280 | $76,870 | $50,040 | $120,290 | 17,920 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Electrical and Electronics Drafters salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $78,430, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $60,264 a year, or $5,022 a month and $2,318 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 | $61,683 | $5,140 |
| Working in IL | $60,264 | $5,022 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for electrical and electronics 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 $78,430 buys what about $75,708 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Electrical and Electronics Drafters salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$80,640
- Madison, WI$86,060
- Grand Rapids, MI$71,650
- Indianapolis, IN$81,760
- Green Bay, WI$73,060
- Cedar Rapids, IA$82,930
Highest-paying cities for electrical and electronics drafters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($124,170).
- San Jose, CA$124,170
- Anchorage, AK$104,550
- Boulder, CO$100,940
- Manchester, NH$99,000
- Bridgeport, CT$98,100
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Electrical and Electronics Drafters salary in Chicago: questions
How much do electrical and electronics drafters make an hour in Chicago?
$37.71 an hour on average, and $33.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level electrical and electronics drafters salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the electrical and electronics drafters take-home pay in Chicago?
About $60,264 a year ($5,022 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,430.
Do electrical and electronics drafters earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($81,280).
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 17-3012; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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 0.27, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.27).
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