Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Trenton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,220 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Trenton earn between $52,980 and $77,750.
- $50K10th
- $53K25th
- $65KMedian
- $78K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,340 | $5,862 | $33.82 |
| Median | $64,590 | $5,382 | $31.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,980 | $4,415 | $25.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,750 | $6,479 | $37.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Trenton vs. New Jersey and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Trenton earn 4% more than the New Jersey average ($67,820) and about the same as the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | $70,340 | $64,590 | $50,060 | $97,220 | 170 |
| New Jersey | $67,820 | $62,960 | $44,700 | $96,120 | 2,280 |
| 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 Trenton
On the average salary of $70,340, a single filer in Trenton takes home about $55,976 a year, or $4,665 a month and $2,153 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Is Trenton a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Trenton area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.2), so the average $70,340 buys what about $68,172 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Trenton ($63,490). A typical home costs $446,377, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other New Jersey cities
Trenton ranks 1st of 2 New Jersey metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Trenton$70,340
- Atlantic City$62,940
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 Trenton: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Trenton?
$33.82 an hour on average, and $31.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Trenton?
About $55,976 a year ($4,665 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,340. New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Trenton than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ (45940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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