Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,070 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Portland earn between $63,300 and $82,150.
- $61K10th
- $63K25th
- $76KMedian
- $82K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,760 | $6,397 | $36.90 |
| Median | $75,560 | $6,297 | $36.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,300 | $5,275 | $30.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,150 | $6,846 | $39.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Portland earn 3% more than the Oregon average ($74,430) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $76,760 | $75,560 | $61,360 | $101,070 | 1,180 |
| Oregon | $74,430 | $74,000 | $57,020 | $98,410 | 1,490 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $76,760, a single filer in Portland takes home about $57,377 a year, or $4,781 a month and $2,207 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $62,831 | $5,236 |
| Working in OR | $57,377 | $4,781 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $76,760 buys what about $72,813 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 1st of 5 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Portland: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Portland?
$36.90 an hour on average, and $36.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Portland?
About $57,377 a year ($4,781 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,760. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.47, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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