Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,590 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Memphis earn between $63,970 and $77,500.
- $46K10th
- $64K25th
- $65KMedian
- $78K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,290 | $5,774 | $33.31 |
| Median | $65,090 | $5,424 | $31.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,970 | $5,331 | $30.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,500 | $6,458 | $37.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($70,720) and about the same as the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $69,290 | $65,090 | $45,680 | $82,590 | 210 |
| Tennessee | $70,720 | $69,220 | $45,050 | $98,020 | 1,310 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $69,290, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $57,576 a year, or $4,798 a month and $2,214 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $57,576 | $4,798 |
| Working in MS | $55,536 | $4,628 |
| Working in AR | $55,500 | $4,625 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $69,290 buys what about $75,169 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 3rd of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Knoxville pays the most ($77,940).
- Knoxville$77,940
- Nashville$75,320
- Memphis$69,290
- Kingsport$65,840
- Clarksville$62,430
- Chattanooga$62,300
- Johnson City$60,810
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 Memphis: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Memphis?
$33.31 an hour on average, and $31.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Memphis?
About $57,576 a year ($4,798 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,290. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Memphis 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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