Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $96,570 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Indianapolis earn between $51,980 and $76,640.
- $44K10th
- $52K25th
- $62KMedian
- $77K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,210 | $5,684 | $32.79 |
| Median | $62,330 | $5,194 | $29.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,980 | $4,332 | $24.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,640 | $6,387 | $36.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Indianapolis earn 6% more than the Indiana average ($64,350) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $68,210 | $62,330 | $43,820 | $96,570 | 980 |
| Indiana | $64,350 | $60,000 | $43,430 | $93,560 | 2,240 |
| 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 Indianapolis
On the average salary of $68,210, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $53,442 a year, or $4,453 a month and $2,055 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 (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $68,210 buys what about $71,278 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 1st of 8 Indiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Indianapolis$68,210
- Evansville$62,720
- Bloomington$60,820
- Lafayette$60,360
- Fort Wayne$59,400
- Elkhart$59,110
- Terre Haute$58,720
- South Bend$56,810
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 Indianapolis: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Indianapolis?
$32.80 an hour on average, and $29.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $53,442 a year ($4,453 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,210. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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