Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $116,000 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Washington earn between $63,200 and $92,820.
- $56K10th
- $63K25th
- $76KMedian
- $93K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,650 | $6,721 | $38.77 |
| Median | $76,020 | $6,335 | $36.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,200 | $5,267 | $30.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,820 | $7,735 | $44.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Washington earn 17% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($96,900) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $80,650 | $76,020 | $55,730 | $116,000 | 1,610 |
| Washington, D.C. | $96,900 | $97,880 | $67,850 | $120,190 | 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 Washington
On the average salary of $80,650, a single filer in Washington takes home about $61,681 a year, or $5,140 a month and $2,372 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $62,763 | $5,230 |
| Working in MD | $61,948 | $5,162 |
| Working in VA | $61,744 | $5,145 |
| Working in DC | $61,681 | $5,140 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $80,650 buys what about $74,070 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$63,570
- Baltimore, MD$77,570
- Winchester, VA$59,260
- Lexington Park, MD$76,750
- Chambersburg, PA$59,580
- Charlottesville, VA$63,040
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 Washington: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Washington?
$38.78 an hour on average, and $36.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Washington?
About $61,681 a year ($5,140 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,650.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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