Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,540 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Madison earn between $60,890 and $81,450.
- $53K10th
- $61K25th
- $72KMedian
- $81K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,770 | $6,148 | $35.47 |
| Median | $72,210 | $6,018 | $34.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,890 | $5,074 | $29.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,450 | $6,788 | $39.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Madison earn 7% more than the Wisconsin average ($68,880) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $73,770 | $72,210 | $52,570 | $102,540 | 390 |
| Wisconsin | $68,880 | $62,930 | $48,840 | $96,830 | 2,200 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $73,770, a single filer in Madison takes home about $57,857 a year, or $4,821 a month and $2,225 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $73,770 buys what about $75,827 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 10 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Madison$73,770
- Oshkosh$69,710
- Milwaukee$69,400
- Sheboygan$68,450
- Janesville$68,390
- Appleton$67,070
- La Crosse$66,130
- Green Bay$65,090
- Wausau$64,580
- Eau Claire$64,310
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 Madison: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Madison?
$35.47 an hour on average, and $34.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Madison?
About $57,857 a year ($4,821 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,770.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- 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 1.42, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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