Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,830 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Nashville earn between $61,910 and $84,920.
- $49K10th
- $62K25th
- $75KMedian
- $85K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,320 | $6,277 | $36.21 |
| Median | $75,010 | $6,251 | $36.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,910 | $5,159 | $29.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,920 | $7,077 | $40.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Nashville earn 7% more than the Tennessee average ($70,720) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $75,320 | $75,010 | $49,260 | $102,830 | 440 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $75,320, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $61,818 a year, or $5,151 a month and $2,378 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $75,320 buys what about $78,183 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 2nd 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 Nashville: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Nashville?
$36.21 an hour on average, and $36.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Nashville?
About $61,818 a year ($5,151 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,320. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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