How much does a drafter make in Chicago?
$53,300a year
Median yearly pay for drafters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $25.63 an hour or $4,442 a month.
- Hourly
- $25.63
- Vs. national median
- -16%
- Rank among cities
- 78 of 83
- Jobs in the area
- 120
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $47,790Median: $53,300Highest 10%: $95,660
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,790 | $22.98 | |
| 25th | $48,790 | $23.46 | |
| Median | $53,300 | $25.63 | |
| 75th | $79,420 | $38.18 | |
| 90th | $95,660 | $45.99 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for drafters.
| St. Louis, MO | $62,500 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,500 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $134,500 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,900 |
| Electronics Engineer | $125,700 |
| Engineer | $121,900 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $114,200 |
| Electrical Engineer | $113,500 |
| Chemical Engineer | $110,800 |
| Environmental Engineer | $110,700 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a drafter make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $25.63 ($53,300 a year).
Do drafters make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $53,300 against $63,520 nationally, 16% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $53,300, so Chicago pays 0% more.
Where does Chicago rank for drafter pay?
78 of 83 metro areas with data.
How much does a drafter make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $47,790 or less a year; the top 10% make $95,660 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.