Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $81,790 a year ($39.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,990 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $99,280. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $81,780. There are 0.99 architects, except landscape and naval per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $93,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for architects, except landscape and naval in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,750 | $29.21 |
| 25th percentile | $65,820 | $31.65 |
| Median | $81,790 | $39.32 |
| 75th percentile | $105,090 | $50.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,990 | $62.98 |
| Average (mean) | $93,260 | $44.84 |
Half of architects, except landscape and naval earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,815.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,407.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,145.77 |
| Weekly | $1,572.88 |
| Hourly | $39.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $103,050 | 780 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $100,760 | 220 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $99,030 | 50 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $98,800 | 880 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $98,750 | 670 |
| Springfield, IL | $97,600 | 60 |
| Bloomington, IN | $86,900 | 30 |
| Evansville, IN | $83,000 | 80 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $82,300 | 100 |
| Bloomington, IL | $82,250 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $81,110 | 80 |
| Rockford, IL | $81,010 | 50 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $79,750 | 170 |
| Peoria, IL | $79,580 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for architects, except landscape and naval
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $120,580 |
| Massachusetts | $117,330 |
| Maryland | $114,550 |
| Alaska | $108,730 |
| California | $108,540 |
| Rhode Island | $105,160 |
| Connecticut | $103,540 |
| South Dakota | $102,500 |
| Colorado | $102,400 |
| Hawaii | $102,340 |
See Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Surveyor | $80,060 | $38.49 |
| Landscape Architect | $66,830 | $32.13 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,760 | $48.92 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,160 | $48.16 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| Electrical Engineer | $113,520 | $54.58 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $81,360 | $39.12 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $85,510 | $41.11 |
| Engineers, All Other | $121,910 | $58.61 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,890 | $36.01 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,860 | $64.35 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $58,800 | $28.27 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $57,470 | $27.63 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a architects, except landscape and naval make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for architects, except landscape and naval in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $81,790 a year, or $39.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid architects, except landscape and naval make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of architects, except landscape and naval in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $130,990 a year. The top 25% earn $105,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for architects, except landscape and naval in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,750 a year, and a quarter of architects, except landscape and naval earn $65,820 or less.
How many architects, except landscape and naval work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 4,460 architects, except landscape and naval are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.