Aerospace Engineers vs Architectural and Civil Drafters
Side-by-side salary and career comparison using Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Aerospace Engineers
$134,830
median annual salary
Architectural and Civil Drafters
$64,280
median annual salary
Aerospace Engineers earns $70,550 more per year (110% higher)
Salary & Career Comparison
| Metric | Aerospace Engineers | Architectural and Civil Drafters |
|---|---|---|
| Median Salary | $134,830 | $64,280 |
| Median Hourly | $64.82/hr | $30.90/hr |
| Mean Salary | $141,180 | $68,860 |
| 10th Percentile | $85,350 | $44,040 |
| 90th Percentile | $205,850 | $98,190 |
| Total Employment | 68,440 | 109,550 |
| Job Growth (2023–2033) | +6.1% | +4.1% |
| Annual Openings | 4.5 | 10 |
| Education | Bachelor's degree | Associate's degree |
| Work Experience | None | None |
Salary by State
States where both occupations have reported wage data, sorted by salary difference.
| State | Aerospace Engineers | Architectural and Civil Drafters | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $158,600 | $65,140 | +$93,460 |
| District of Columbia | $175,350 | $88,430 | +$86,920 |
| Maryland | $158,220 | $71,810 | +$86,410 |
| Iowa | $150,010 | $63,640 | +$86,370 |
| Minnesota | $147,940 | $67,150 | +$80,790 |
| New Mexico | $139,770 | $59,050 | +$80,720 |
| Vermont | $140,520 | $60,470 | +$80,050 |
| Georgia | $142,910 | $65,220 | +$77,690 |
| Alabama | $133,080 | $56,030 | +$77,050 |
| Massachusetts | $152,210 | $75,850 | +$76,360 |
| Colorado | $151,570 | $76,960 | +$74,610 |
| Arizona | $135,620 | $61,460 | +$74,160 |
| Ohio | $134,230 | $60,540 | +$73,690 |
| New Jersey | $128,400 | $57,240 | +$71,160 |
| Hawaii | $134,910 | $64,110 | +$70,800 |
| California | $143,860 | $74,390 | +$69,470 |
| South Carolina | $131,820 | $62,890 | +$68,930 |
| Utah | $130,670 | $62,350 | +$68,320 |
| Virginia | $132,160 | $64,100 | +$68,060 |
| Florida | $127,680 | $61,080 | +$66,600 |
Showing top 20 of 42 states.
Also Compare
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Common Questions
Which pays more, Aerospace Engineers or Architectural and Civil Drafters?
Aerospace Engineers pays more, with a median annual salary of $134,830 compared to $64,280 — a difference of $70,550 per year.
Which has better job outlook?
Aerospace Engineers has faster projected growth at 6.1% from 2023 to 2033, compared to 4.1% for Architectural and Civil Drafters.
Where does this data come from?
All salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release. Job outlook data comes from the BLS Employment Projections program covering 2023-2033.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024.