Architectural and Engineering Managers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $112,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $235,240 or more. The middle half of architectural and engineering managers in Chicago earn between $133,100 and $200,400.
- $112K10th
- $133K25th
- $163KMedian
- $200K75th
- $235K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $171,260 | $14,272 | $82.34 |
| Median | $163,430 | $13,619 | $78.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $133,100 | $11,092 | $63.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $200,400 | $16,700 | $96.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Architectural and Engineering Managers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $171,260, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $119,986 a year, or $9,999 a month and $4,615 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 | $123,214 | $10,268 |
| Working in IL | $119,986 | $9,999 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for architectural and engineering managers? 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 $171,260 buys what about $165,317 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Engineering Managers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 3rd of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job; Peoria pays the most ($196,750).
- Peoria$196,750
- Decatur$180,070
- Chicago$171,260
- Springfield$156,610
- Rockford$153,180
- Bloomington$151,860
- Champaign$151,240
All Architectural and Engineering Managers salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for architectural and engineering managers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($252,690).
- San Jose, CA$252,690
- San Francisco, CA$236,870
- Albuquerque, NM$214,950
- Naples, FL$209,110
- Midland, TX$205,810
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Architectural and Engineering Managers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do architectural and engineering managers make an hour in Chicago?
$82.34 an hour on average, and $78.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and engineering managers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $112,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $133,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and engineering managers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $119,986 a year ($9,999 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $171,260.
Do architectural and engineering managers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($183,163).
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 11-9041; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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