Landscape Architect Salary in Chicago, IL
Landscape Architects in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $66,830 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,682 take-home, or $4,390 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median landscape architect salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,873
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,143
- Medicare (1.45%)$969
- Illinois income tax$3,163
- Take-home pay$52,682
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Landscape Architect pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,770 | $26.33 | $43,621 | $3,635 |
| 25th percentile | $54,770 | $26.33 | $43,621 | $3,635 |
| Median (50th) | $66,830 | $32.13 | $52,682 | $4,390 |
| 75th percentile | $77,510 | $37.26 | $59,666 | $4,972 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,340 | $50.64 | $77,867 | $6,489 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,830 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median landscape architect's $52,682 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,853 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.5× the national concentration of landscape architect jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for landscape architects, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $103,670 | $81,762 | $82,898 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $119,730 | $84,598 | $73,174 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $92,970 | $70,182 | $67,168 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $84,270 | $65,527 | $63,895 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $95,760 | $70,276 | $61,881 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $89,350 | $67,061 | $61,590 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $76,730 | $62,810 | $56,517 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $66,830 | $52,682 | $50,853 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a landscape architect make in Chicago, IL?
The median landscape architect salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $66,830 a year, or about $32.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $54,770 and $77,510.
What is a landscape architect’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $66,830 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $52,682 a year ($4,390 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,163 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a landscape architect?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $79,870. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,853 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a landscape architect afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median landscape architect’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Nuclear Engineer — $134,510
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $133,860
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $125,650
- Engineers, All Other — $121,910
- Electrical Engineer — $113,520
- Environmental Engineer — $110,700
- Mechanical Engineer — $102,070
- Industrial Engineer — $101,760
- Civil Engineer — $100,160
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $85,510
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $81,790
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $81,360