Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,040 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Chattanooga earn between $47,680 and $72,310.
- $48K10th
- $48K25th
- $59KMedian
- $72K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,300 | $5,192 | $29.95 |
| Median | $58,780 | $4,898 | $28.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,680 | $3,973 | $22.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,310 | $6,026 | $34.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Chattanooga earn 12% less than the Tennessee average ($70,720) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $62,300 | $58,780 | $47,680 | $86,040 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $70,720 | $69,220 | $45,050 | $98,020 | 1,310 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $62,300, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $52,238 a year, or $4,353 a month and $2,009 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $52,238 | $4,353 |
| Working in GA | $49,878 | $4,156 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $62,300 buys what about $68,114 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 6th of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Knoxville pays the most ($77,940).
- Knoxville$77,940
- Nashville$75,320
- Memphis$69,290
- Kingsport$65,840
- Clarksville$62,430
- Chattanooga$62,300
- Johnson City$60,810
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Chattanooga?
$29.95 an hour on average, and $28.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $52,238 a year ($4,353 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,300. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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