Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Altoona
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,820 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Altoona earn between $52,000 and $75,910.
- $45K10th
- $52K25th
- $68KMedian
- $76K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,840 | $5,737 | $33.10 |
| Median | $68,230 | $5,686 | $32.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,910 | $6,326 | $36.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Altoona vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Altoona earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($69,080) and about the same as the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $68,840 | $68,230 | $45,440 | $90,820 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,080 | $64,800 | $46,740 | $96,680 | 5,370 |
| 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 Altoona
On the average salary of $68,840, a single filer in Altoona takes home about $55,146 a year, or $4,595 a month and $2,121 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Altoona a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Altoona area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.5), so the average $68,840 buys what about $76,910 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Altoona ($44,270). A typical home costs $178,052, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Altoona ranks 4th of 14 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($72,370).
- Philadelphia$72,370
- Pittsburgh$70,670
- Allentown$70,580
- Altoona$68,840
- Harrisburg$68,560
- York$68,290
- Reading$66,960
- Lancaster$66,690
- State College$66,170
- Scranton$65,870
All Architectural and Civil Drafters salaries in Pennsylvania
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Altoona: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Altoona?
$33.10 an hour on average, and $32.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Altoona?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Altoona?
About $55,146 a year ($4,595 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,840. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Altoona 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 Altoona, PA (11020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.1%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.38, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.