Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,180 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Seattle earn between $62,950 and $89,990.
- $56K10th
- $63K25th
- $76KMedian
- $90K75th
- $102K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,530 | $6,461 | $37.27 |
| Median | $75,830 | $6,319 | $36.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,950 | $5,246 | $30.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,990 | $7,499 | $43.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Seattle earn 4% more than the Washington average ($74,420) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $77,530 | $75,830 | $56,150 | $102,180 | 1,520 |
| Washington | $74,420 | $73,000 | $55,990 | $102,180 | 2,530 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $77,530, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $63,372 a year, or $5,281 a month and $2,437 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $77,530 buys what about $69,763 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 2nd of 9 Washington metro areas for this job; Kennewick pays the most ($80,270).
- Kennewick$80,270
- Seattle$77,530
- Wenatchee$74,200
- Bremerton$73,560
- Bellingham$72,860
- Mount Vernon$69,320
- Olympia$65,330
- Yakima$63,760
- Spokane$63,080
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 Seattle: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Seattle?
$37.27 an hour on average, and $36.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Seattle?
About $63,372 a year ($5,281 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,530. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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