Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,990 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Milwaukee earn between $57,010 and $79,760.
- $48K10th
- $57K25th
- $62KMedian
- $80K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,400 | $5,783 | $33.37 |
| Median | $61,960 | $5,163 | $29.79 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,010 | $4,751 | $27.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,760 | $6,647 | $38.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Milwaukee earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($68,880) and about the same as the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $69,400 | $61,960 | $47,840 | $97,990 | 730 |
| Wisconsin | $68,880 | $62,930 | $48,840 | $96,830 | 2,200 |
| 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 Milwaukee
On the average salary of $69,400, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $55,042 a year, or $4,587 a month and $2,117 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Milwaukee a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $69,400 buys what about $71,593 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 3rd of 10 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($73,770).
- Madison$73,770
- Oshkosh$69,710
- Milwaukee$69,400
- Sheboygan$68,450
- Janesville$68,390
- Appleton$67,070
- La Crosse$66,130
- Green Bay$65,090
- Wausau$64,580
- Eau Claire$64,310
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 Milwaukee: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Milwaukee?
$33.36 an hour on average, and $29.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $55,042 a year ($4,587 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,400.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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