Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Lancaster
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,990 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Lancaster earn between $55,150 and $79,220.
- $46K10th
- $55K25th
- $64KMedian
- $79K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,690 | $5,558 | $32.06 |
| Median | $63,570 | $5,298 | $30.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,150 | $4,596 | $26.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,220 | $6,602 | $38.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Lancaster vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Lancaster earn 3% less than the Pennsylvania average ($69,080) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | $66,690 | $63,570 | $45,960 | $93,990 | 330 |
| 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 Lancaster
On the average salary of $66,690, a single filer in Lancaster takes home about $53,699 a year, or $4,475 a month and $2,065 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 Lancaster a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lancaster area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $66,690 buys what about $67,873 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Lancaster ($48,210). A typical home costs $388,207, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Lancaster ranks 8th 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
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Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Lancaster: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Lancaster?
$32.06 an hour on average, and $30.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Lancaster?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Lancaster?
About $53,699 a year ($4,475 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,690. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Lancaster than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Lancaster, PA (29540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 1.97, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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