Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Illinois
Architectural and Civil Drafters in Illinois earn a median of $58,240 a year ($28.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,040 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $66,150. Illinois ranks 47th of 50 states for architectural and civil drafters pay. There are 0.21 architectural and civil drafters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.32). The average (mean) salary is $63,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for architectural and civil drafters in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| 25th percentile | $48,690 | $23.41 |
| Median | $58,240 | $28.00 |
| 75th percentile | $74,790 | $35.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,040 | $42.33 |
| Average (mean) | $63,050 | $30.31 |
Half of architectural and civil drafters 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 | $4,853.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,426.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,240 |
| Weekly | $1,120 |
| Hourly | $28.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $66,370 | 70 |
| Rockford, IL | $63,440 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,430 | 970 |
| Peoria, IL | $58,820 | 60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,800 | 1,040 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $51,920 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for architectural and civil drafters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $97,880 |
| Massachusetts | $76,990 |
| California | $76,520 |
| Colorado | $76,370 |
| Connecticut | $76,290 |
| New York | $76,260 |
| Maryland | $75,180 |
| Georgia | $74,940 |
| Oregon | $74,000 |
| Delaware | $73,040 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $71,090 | $34.18 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $85,510 | $41.11 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $77,020 | $37.03 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $57,470 | $27.63 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $79,800 | $38.37 |
| Mechanical Drafter | $63,320 | $30.44 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $79,400 | $38.18 |
| Drafters, All Other | $53,300 | $25.62 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $68,310 | $32.84 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $59,590 | $28.65 |
| Industrial Engineer | $100,540 | $48.34 |
| Civil Engineer | $99,760 | $47.96 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-3011. 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 architectural and civil drafters make in Illinois?
The median salary for architectural and civil drafters in Illinois is $58,240 a year, or $28.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid architectural and civil drafters make in Illinois?
The top 10% of architectural and civil drafters in Illinois earn at least $88,040 a year. The top 25% earn $74,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for architectural and civil drafters in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,760 a year, and a quarter of architectural and civil drafters earn $48,690 or less.
How many architectural and civil drafters work in Illinois?
About 1,310 architectural and civil drafters are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.