Landscape Architect salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Landscape Architects in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $66,830 a year ($32.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,340 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $79,870. Pay here is 1% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $67,460. There are 0.19 landscape architects per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $73,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for landscape architects in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,770 | $26.33 |
| 25th percentile | $54,770 | $26.33 |
| Median | $66,830 | $32.13 |
| 75th percentile | $77,510 | $37.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,340 | $50.65 |
| Average (mean) | $73,520 | $35.35 |
Half of landscape architects 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 | $5,569.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,784.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,570.38 |
| Weekly | $1,285.19 |
| Hourly | $32.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Landscape Architect salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $75,870 | 60 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $70,800 | 120 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $67,990 | 110 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $67,990 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $66,080 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for landscape architects
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $101,220 |
| California | $98,380 |
| Tennessee | $95,250 |
| New Jersey | $95,020 |
| Utah | $94,430 |
| Maryland | $92,880 |
| Texas | $89,220 |
| Massachusetts | $88,000 |
| New York | $87,360 |
| Iowa | $87,270 |
See Landscape Architect pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $81,790 | $39.32 |
| Surveyor | $80,060 | $38.49 |
| 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 17-1012. 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 landscape architect make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for landscape architects in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $66,830 a year, or $32.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid landscape architects make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of landscape architects in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $105,340 a year. The top 25% earn $77,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for landscape architects in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,770 a year, and a quarter of landscape architects earn $54,770 or less.
How many landscape architects work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 850 landscape architects are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.