Architectural and Civil Drafters · Illinois

Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary in Illinois

Architectural and Civil Drafters in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $58,240 —12.0% below the national median of $66,150. That ranks IL #47 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$58,240
Median hourly
$28.00
Entry level (P10)
$45,760
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$88,040
90th percentile
Employment
1,310
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-12.0%
U.S. $66,150

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$45,760
$48,690
$58,240
$74,790
$45,760$58,240$88,040
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $58,240.

Employment is only 0.32× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Highest-paying states for architectural and civil drafters

All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$97,880$47.063700.80
2Massachusetts$76,990$37.022,6601.10
3California$76,520$36.7911,4000.94
4Colorado$76,370$36.723,5701.86
5Connecticut$76,290$36.688100.72
6New York$76,260$36.667,3801.14
7Maryland$75,180$36.149100.49
8Georgia$74,940$36.033,9701.22
9Oregon$74,000$35.581,4901.13
10Delaware$73,040$35.122900.90

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Civil Engineers$99,760$100,840
Industrial Engineers$100,540$102,440
Mechanical Engineers$102,680$104,110
Electrical Engineers$107,860$120,630
Engineers, All Other$111,930$122,930
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$81,780$99,280

Frequently asked questions

How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for architectural and civil drafters in Illinois is $58,240, or $28.00 per hour. That is 12.0% below the national median of $66,150.

What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $45,760 per year ($22.00/hour). The 25th percentile is $48,690.

How many people work as architectural and civil drafters in Illinois?

About 1,310 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for architectural and civil drafters?

Illinois ranks #47 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.32x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Which state pays architectural and civil drafters the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $97,880 per year, followed by Massachusetts ($76,990) and California ($76,520).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes