Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,580 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Boston earn between $65,140 and $82,460.
- $61K10th
- $65K25th
- $79KMedian
- $82K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,360 | $6,530 | $37.67 |
| Median | $79,310 | $6,609 | $38.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,140 | $5,428 | $31.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,460 | $6,872 | $39.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($77,110) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $78,360 | $79,310 | $60,780 | $102,580 | 2,150 |
| Massachusetts | $77,110 | $76,990 | $56,850 | $102,660 | 2,660 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $78,360, a single filer in Boston takes home about $60,358 a year, or $5,030 a month and $2,321 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $63,956 | $5,330 |
| Working in MA | $60,358 | $5,030 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $78,360 buys what about $72,377 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$78,360
- Pittsfield$74,570
- Barnstable$73,360
- Worcester$73,120
- Springfield$69,060
- Amherst$68,890
All Architectural and Civil Drafters salaries in Massachusetts
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 Boston: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Boston?
$37.67 an hour on average, and $38.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Boston?
About $60,358 a year ($5,030 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,360. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.19, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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