Architectural and Civil Drafter salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 21 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Burr Ridge, Itasca, Rolling Meadows, Suite 700.
Also listed as: Architectural Drafter
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $45,510 |
| 25th | $62,400 |
| 50th (median) | $70,000 |
| 75th | $83,000 |
| 90th | $87,006 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $56,778 | $46,904 | $62,000 | 16 |
| FY2021 | $55,300 | $51,250 | $61,238 | 15 |
| FY2022 | $57,000 | $51,250 | $64,500 | 11 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2024 | $63,253 | $56,313 | $72,500 | 10 |
| FY2025 | $63,232 | $45,510 | $69,592 | 10 |
| FY2026 | $82,680 | $73,060 | $85,998 | 11 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Architectural and Civil Drafter salary of $70,000 is worth about $67,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Architectural and Civil Drafters in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $58,800 in May 2025 (1,040 employed). The H-1B median here is $70,000, 19% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Woolpert | $83,990 | 10 |
| Senga Architects | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 3 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 5 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 3 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.