Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,190 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Louisville earn between $52,700 and $77,120.
- $42K10th
- $53K25th
- $63KMedian
- $77K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,200 | $5,433 | $31.35 |
| Median | $62,900 | $5,242 | $30.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,700 | $4,392 | $25.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,120 | $6,427 | $37.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Louisville earn 4% more than the Kentucky average ($62,850) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $65,200 | $62,900 | $42,380 | $86,190 | 280 |
| Kentucky | $62,850 | $60,120 | $38,780 | $86,530 | 870 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $65,200, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $50,969 a year, or $4,247 a month and $1,960 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-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 | $52,642 | $4,387 |
| Working in KY | $50,969 | $4,247 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $65,200 buys what about $70,052 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 1st of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Louisville$65,200
- Lexington$59,880
- Bowling Green$56,900
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 Louisville: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Louisville?
$31.35 an hour on average, and $30.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Louisville?
About $50,969 a year ($4,247 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,200. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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