Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Reading
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $96,910 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Reading earn between $50,500 and $78,610.
- $46K10th
- $50K25th
- $61KMedian
- $79K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,960 | $5,580 | $32.19 |
| Median | $60,800 | $5,067 | $29.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,500 | $4,208 | $24.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,610 | $6,551 | $37.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Reading vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Reading earn 3% less than the Pennsylvania average ($69,080) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | $66,960 | $60,800 | $45,760 | $96,910 | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,080 | $64,800 | $46,740 | $96,680 | 5,370 |
| 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 Reading
On the average salary of $66,960, a single filer in Reading takes home about $53,881 a year, or $4,490 a month and $2,072 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Reading a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Reading area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $66,960 buys what about $68,988 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Reading ($49,440). A typical home costs $312,348, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Reading ranks 7th of 14 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($72,370).
- Philadelphia$72,370
- Pittsburgh$70,670
- Allentown$70,580
- Altoona$68,840
- Harrisburg$68,560
- York$68,290
- Reading$66,960
- Lancaster$66,690
- State College$66,170
- Scranton$65,870
All Architectural and Civil Drafters salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Reading: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Reading?
$32.19 an hour on average, and $29.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Reading?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Reading?
About $53,881 a year ($4,490 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,960. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Reading than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Reading, PA (39740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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