Mechanical Drafter salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Mechanical Drafters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $72,540 a year ($34.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,230 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $71,550. Pay here is 15% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $63,320. There are 0.07 mechanical drafters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.28). The average (mean) salary is $75,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical drafters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,110 | $25.05 |
| 25th percentile | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Median | $72,540 | $34.88 |
| 75th percentile | $88,220 | $42.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,230 | $47.23 |
| Average (mean) | $75,480 | $36.29 |
Half of mechanical 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 | $6,045 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,022.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,790 |
| Weekly | $1,395 |
| Hourly | $34.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Mechanical Drafter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $80,550 | 50 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $77,250 | 300 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $73,030 | 230 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $70,830 | 330 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $69,240 | 310 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $64,820 | 80 |
| Columbus, IN | $61,730 | 40 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $58,880 | 140 |
| Evansville, IN | $57,060 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical drafters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $89,940 |
| Colorado | $85,280 |
| New Jersey | $83,380 |
| California | $82,510 |
| Texas | $79,380 |
| Louisiana | $77,730 |
| North Dakota | $77,570 |
| Washington | $76,820 |
| Maryland | $76,740 |
| New York | $76,490 |
See Mechanical Drafter pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $81,360 | $39.12 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $85,510 | $41.11 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,890 | $36.01 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $58,800 | $28.27 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $57,470 | $27.63 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $81,660 | $39.26 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $59,590 | $28.65 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $79,400 | $38.18 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $69,500 | $33.41 |
| Drafters, All Other | $53,300 | $25.62 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,760 | $48.92 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,160 | $48.16 |
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 17-3013. 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 mechanical drafter make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for mechanical drafters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $72,540 a year, or $34.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical drafters make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of mechanical drafters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $98,230 a year. The top 25% earn $88,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical drafters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,110 a year, and a quarter of mechanical drafters earn $62,930 or less.
How many mechanical drafters work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 320 mechanical drafters are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.