Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $114,190 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Denver earn between $65,350 and $97,910.
- $60K10th
- $65K25th
- $80KMedian
- $98K75th
- $114K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,770 | $6,981 | $40.27 |
| Median | $79,860 | $6,655 | $38.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,350 | $5,446 | $31.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,910 | $8,159 | $47.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Denver earn 7% more than the Colorado average ($78,240) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $83,770 | $79,860 | $60,260 | $114,190 | 2,120 |
| Colorado | $78,240 | $76,370 | $48,980 | $107,990 | 3,570 |
| United States | $70,740 | $66,150 | $46,260 | $99,710 | 103,700 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary after taxes in Denver
On the average salary of $83,770, a single filer in Denver takes home about $64,785 a year, or $5,399 a month and $2,492 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $83,770 buys what about $79,191 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Colorado cities
Denver ranks 1st of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Denver$83,770
- Boulder$77,260
- Greeley$73,190
- Fort Collins$69,910
- Colorado Springs$68,840
- Pueblo$66,060
- Grand Junction$62,610
Highest-paying cities for architectural and civil drafters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($93,870).
- San Jose, CA$93,870
- Lake Charles, LA$90,720
- San Francisco, CA$89,290
- Denver, CO$83,770
- Rochester, MN$83,220
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Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Denver: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Denver?
$40.27 an hour on average, and $38.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Denver?
About $64,785 a year ($5,399 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,770. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Denver than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more than the U.S. average for this job ($70,740).
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 17-3011; area Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.98, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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