Computer Network Architects pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $205,340 or more. The middle half of computer network architects in Chicago earn between $120,070 and $169,500.
- $96K10th
- $120K25th
- $144KMedian
- $170K75th
- $205K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $146,480 | $12,207 | $70.42 |
| Median | $143,800 | $11,983 | $69.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $120,070 | $10,006 | $57.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $169,500 | $14,125 | $81.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Computer Network Architects salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $146,480, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $104,275 a year, or $8,690 a month and $4,011 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 | $107,021 | $8,918 |
| Working in IL | $104,275 | $8,690 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for computer network architects? 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 $146,480 buys what about $141,397 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Network Architects salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 6 Illinois metro areas for this job; Bloomington pays the most ($155,430).
- Bloomington$155,430
- Chicago$146,480
- Peoria$139,760
- Springfield$120,700
- Champaign$114,400
- Rockford$108,190
Highest-paying cities for computer network architects
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($192,650).
- San Jose, CA$192,650
- San Francisco, CA$172,850
- Seattle, WA$171,920
- Rochester, MN$163,430
- New York, NY$161,380
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Computer Network Architects salary in Chicago: questions
How much do computer network architects make an hour in Chicago?
$70.42 an hour on average, and $69.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer network architects salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $120,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer network architects take-home pay in Chicago?
About $104,275 a year ($8,690 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $146,480.
Do computer network architects earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($141,228).
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 15-1241; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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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