Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,130 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Helena earn between $58,390 and $81,240.
- $52K10th
- $58K25th
- $77KMedian
- $81K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,690 | $5,974 | $34.47 |
| Median | $77,320 | $6,443 | $37.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,390 | $4,866 | $28.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,240 | $6,770 | $39.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Helena earn 6% more than the Montana average ($67,500) and about the same as the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $71,690 | $77,320 | $51,530 | $97,130 | 90 |
| Montana | $67,500 | $65,750 | $48,810 | $84,480 | 600 |
| 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 Helena
On the average salary of $71,690, a single filer in Helena takes home about $56,574 a year, or $4,715 a month and $2,176 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Helena a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Helena area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $71,690 buys what about $74,931 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 1st of 5 Montana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Helena$71,690
- Billings$69,110
- Missoula$67,720
- Bozeman$66,470
- Great Falls$65,290
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 Helena: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Helena?
$34.47 an hour on average, and $37.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Helena?
About $56,574 a year ($4,715 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,690.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.92, this job is 2.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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