Architectural and Civil Drafters salary
in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
- Middle 50%
- $48,320–$76,580
- vs U.S. median
- -11%
- Metro rank
- #83 of 88
Architectural and Civil Drafters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro earn a median of $58,800 a year, based on BLS estimates for 1,040 jobs (May 2025). That is 11% below the U.S. median of $66,150 and 1% above the IL statewide median of $58,240. It ranks #83 of 88 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE1,040 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Employers filing for this job in Chicago
1 employers · DOL
Median of each employer’s DOL LCA filings (5+ filings) in this metro, FY2026 Q3. Visa-sponsored positions only, base pay.
| Employer | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Woolpert | $85,301 | 7 |
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Questions
What is the average Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Chicago?
The BLS median is $58,800 a year (May 2025). Half of the 1,040 jobs pay between $48,320 and $76,580. The 10th percentile is $47,620 and the 90th is $85,740.
Is Chicago a high-paying metro for Architectural and Civil Drafters?
That is 11% below the U.S. median of $66,150 and 1% above the IL statewide median of $58,240. It ranks #83 of 88 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Architectural and Civil Drafters make an hour in Chicago?
About $28.27 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $58,800 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $23.23–$36.82 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Which employers pay Architectural and Civil Drafters the most in Chicago?
Among employers with 5+ visa-sponsored filings here, the highest medians were Woolpert ($85,301). These are base wages for sponsored positions, not all employees.
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.