Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $130,990 or more. The middle half of architects (except landscape and naval) in Chicago earn between $65,820 and $105,090.
- $61K10th
- $66K25th
- $82KMedian
- $105K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,260 | $7,772 | $44.84 |
| Median | $81,790 | $6,816 | $39.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,820 | $5,485 | $31.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,090 | $8,758 | $50.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Architects (except landscape and naval) in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($92,840) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($106,260). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $99,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $93,260 | $81,790 | $60,750 | $130,990 | 4,460 |
| Illinois | $92,840 | $81,780 | $59,890 | $130,670 | 5,130 |
| United States | $106,260 | $99,280 | $62,300 | $161,420 | 106,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $93,260, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $69,963 a year, or $5,830 a month and $2,691 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $71,671 | $5,973 |
| Working in IL | $69,963 | $5,830 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for architects (except landscape and naval)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $93,260 buys what about $90,024 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 6 Illinois metro areas for this job; Springfield pays the most ($100,640).
- Springfield$100,640
- Chicago$93,260
- Rockford$90,410
- Champaign$89,300
- Peoria$86,830
- Bloomington$85,080
All Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for architects (except landscape and naval)
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,170).
- San Jose, CA$142,170
- San Francisco, CA$131,300
- Trenton, NJ$127,000
- Kiryas Joel, NY$125,980
- Sacramento, CA$124,740
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Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in Chicago: questions
How much do architects (except landscape and naval) make an hour in Chicago?
$44.84 an hour on average, and $39.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architects (except landscape and naval) salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architects (except landscape and naval) take-home pay in Chicago?
About $69,963 a year ($5,830 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,260.
Do architects (except landscape and naval) earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($106,260).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-1011; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.44, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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