17 Series · SOC 17-3011
Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $66,150
- Median / year
- $99,710
- Top 10% earn
- +4.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 103,700
- US workers
Architectural and Civil Drafters earn a median of $66,150 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $66,150, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $46,260 (10th percentile) to $99,710 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 103,700 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($97,880), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Architectural and Civil Drafters earn a median of $66,150, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 58% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #31 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.1% by 2033.
- $66,150
- Median annual wage
- Top 42%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #31 of 36
- in Architecture and Engineering
- 2.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $97,880. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Architectural and Civil Drafters (SOC 17-3011) pays a national median of $66,150 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $46,260 at the 10th percentile to $99,710 at the 90th, with a mean of $70,740 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 103,700 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 373 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 10,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 2 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $97,880, which is +48% above the national figure. The top metro is Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT at $84,440 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 103,700 jobs Median $66,150/yr
Median Salary
$66,150
per year
Median Hourly
$31.80/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$70,740
average
Employment
103,700
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Architectural and Civil Drafters pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$66,150 Top 42% higher than 58% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 17-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Architectural and Civil Drafters; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 17-series occupations with growth data, Architectural and Civil Drafters sits on the slower-growing side at +4.1% growth and $66,150 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.1%
About average
Annual Openings
10,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
2/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Architectural and Civil Drafters roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Reading Comprehension 3.6
Complex Problem Solving 3.5
Systems Analysis 3.5
Writing 3.4
Critical Thinking 3.4
Active Learning 3.4
Active Listening 3.3
Mathematics 3.3
Monitoring 3.3
Time Management 3.3
Knowledge Areas
Design 4.3
Building and Construction 4.3
Engineering and Technology 4.2
English Language 3.8
Computers and Electronics 3.8
Mathematics 3.6
Public Safety and Security 3.1
Administration and Management 3.0
Customer and Personal Service 3.0
Geography 2.9
Key Tasks
- ▸ Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
- ▸ Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
- ▸ Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
- ▸ Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
- ▸ Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
- ▸ Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
- ▸ Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
- ▸ Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
- ▸ Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.
- ▸ Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$46,260
25th Percentile
$55,650
Median
$66,150
75th Percentile
$80,870
90th Percentile
$99,710
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $97,880 | +48% above national |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $76,990 | +16% above national |
| 3 | California | $76,520 | +16% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $76,370 | +15% above national |
| 5 | Connecticut | $76,290 | +15% above national |
| 6 | New York | $76,260 | +15% above national |
| 7 | Maryland | $75,180 | +14% above national |
| 8 | Georgia | $74,940 | +13% above national |
| 9 | Oregon | $74,000 | +12% above national |
| 10 | Delaware | $73,040 | +10% above national |
| 11 | Washington | $73,000 | +10% above national |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $71,700 | +8% above national |
| 13 | Minnesota | $70,680 | +7% above national |
| 14 | Tennessee | $69,220 | +5% above national |
| 15 | Nevada | $67,000 | +1% above national |
| 16 | Maine | $66,200 | same as national |
| 17 | Montana | $65,750 | 1% below national |
| 18 | West Virginia | $65,640 | 1% below national |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $65,300 | 1% below national |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $64,800 | 2% below national |
| 21 | Arizona | $64,750 | 2% below national |
| 22 | North Dakota | $64,720 | 2% below national |
| 23 | South Carolina | $64,680 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Utah | $64,290 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Iowa | $64,220 | 3% below national |
| 26 | Wyoming | $63,730 | 4% below national |
| 27 | Hawaii | $63,510 | 4% below national |
| 28 | Virginia | $63,450 | 4% below national |
| 29 | Texas | $63,320 | 4% below national |
| 30 | New Jersey | $62,960 | 5% below national |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $62,930 | 5% below national |
| 32 | North Carolina | $62,750 | 5% below national |
| 33 | Florida | $62,640 | 5% below national |
| 34 | Arkansas | $62,420 | 6% below national |
| 35 | Kansas | $62,220 | 6% below national |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $62,140 | 6% below national |
| 37 | Missouri | $61,940 | 6% below national |
| 38 | Idaho | $61,840 | 7% below national |
| 39 | Nebraska | $61,550 | 7% below national |
| 40 | Ohio | $61,450 | 7% below national |
| 41 | Louisiana | $61,010 | 8% below national |
| 42 | Vermont | $61,000 | 8% below national |
| 43 | Kentucky | $60,120 | 9% below national |
| 44 | Indiana | $60,000 | 9% below national |
| 45 | Mississippi | $59,920 | 9% below national |
| 46 | Michigan | $58,330 | 12% below national |
| 47 | Illinois | $58,240 | 12% below national |
| 48 | Alabama | $57,100 | 14% below national |
| 49 | Guam | $56,710 | 14% below national |
| 50 | South Dakota | $52,470 | 21% below national |
| 51 | New Mexico | $50,230 | 24% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $44,720 | 32% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 373 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $84,440 | +28% above national |
| 2 | Rochester, MN | $83,780 | +27% above national |
| 3 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $83,630 | +26% above national |
| 4 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $82,820 | +25% above national |
| 5 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $81,370 | +23% above national |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $81,130 | +23% above national |
| 7 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $81,070 | +23% above national |
| 8 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $80,040 | +21% above national |
| 9 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $79,860 | +21% above national |
| 10 | Lake Charles, LA | $79,540 | +20% above national |
| 11 | Dalton, GA | $79,410 | +20% above national |
| 12 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $79,310 | +20% above national |
| 13 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $78,340 | +18% above national |
| 14 | Lexington Park, MD | $78,010 | +18% above national |
| 15 | Chico, CA | $77,850 | +18% above national |
| 16 | Manhattan, KS | $77,810 | +18% above national |
| 17 | Helena, MT | $77,320 | +17% above national |
| 18 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $77,190 | +17% above national |
| 19 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $77,170 | +17% above national |
| 20 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,950 | +16% above national |
| 21 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $76,630 | +16% above national |
| 22 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $76,450 | +16% above national |
| 23 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $76,020 | +15% above national |
| 24 | Napa, CA | $76,000 | +15% above national |
| 25 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $75,830 | +15% above national |
| 26 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $75,810 | +15% above national |
| 27 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $75,750 | +15% above national |
| 28 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $75,560 | +14% above national |
| 29 | Vallejo, CA | $75,460 | +14% above national |
| 30 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $75,290 | +14% above national |
| 31 | Boulder, CO | $75,200 | +14% above national |
| 32 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $75,010 | +13% above national |
| 33 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $74,750 | +13% above national |
| 34 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $74,230 | +12% above national |
| 35 | Savannah, GA | $74,190 | +12% above national |
| 36 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $74,180 | +12% above national |
| 37 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $73,930 | +12% above national |
| 38 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $73,700 | +11% above national |
| 39 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $73,360 | +11% above national |
| 40 | Pittsfield, MA | $73,130 | +11% above national |
| 41 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $72,590 | +10% above national |
| 42 | Worcester, MA | $72,310 | +9% above national |
| 43 | Madison, WI | $72,210 | +9% above national |
| 44 | Knoxville, TN | $72,180 | +9% above national |
| 45 | Sheboygan, WI | $72,040 | +9% above national |
| 46 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $72,020 | +9% above national |
| 47 | Gainesville, GA | $71,930 | +9% above national |
| 48 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $71,860 | +9% above national |
| 49 | Salem, OR | $70,870 | +7% above national |
| 50 | Dover, DE | $70,840 | +7% above national |
| 51 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $70,800 | +7% above national |
| 52 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $70,780 | +7% above national |
| 53 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $70,730 | +7% above national |
| 54 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $70,610 | +7% above national |
| 55 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $70,580 | +7% above national |
| 56 | Baton Rouge, LA | $70,300 | +6% above national |
| 57 | Springfield, MA | $70,080 | +6% above national |
| 58 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $70,010 | +6% above national |
| 59 | Reno, NV | $69,650 | +5% above national |
| 60 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $69,440 | +5% above national |
| 61 | Missoula, MT | $68,760 | +4% above national |
| 62 | Tucson, AZ | $68,640 | +4% above national |
| 63 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $68,480 | +4% above national |
| 64 | Visalia, CA | $68,470 | +4% above national |
| 65 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $68,460 | +3% above national |
| 66 | Topeka, KS | $68,290 | +3% above national |
| 67 | Altoona, PA | $68,230 | +3% above national |
| 68 | Pittsburgh, PA | $68,160 | +3% above national |
| 69 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $68,120 | +3% above national |
| 70 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $68,020 | +3% above national |
| 71 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $67,930 | +3% above national |
| 72 | Bismarck, ND | $67,780 | +2% above national |
| 73 | Greeley, CO | $67,720 | +2% above national |
| 74 | Cheyenne, WY | $67,640 | +2% above national |
| 75 | Bend, OR | $67,410 | +2% above national |
| 76 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $67,410 | +2% above national |
| 77 | York-Hanover, PA | $67,360 | +2% above national |
| 78 | Barnstable Town, MA | $67,250 | +2% above national |
| 79 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $67,020 | +1% above national |
| 80 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $66,930 | +1% above national |
| 81 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $66,890 | +1% above national |
| 82 | Ithaca, NY | $66,690 | +1% above national |
| 83 | Wilmington, NC | $66,660 | +1% above national |
| 84 | Medford, OR | $66,590 | +1% above national |
| 85 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $66,550 | +1% above national |
| 86 | Salinas, CA | $66,470 | same as national |
| 87 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $66,370 | same as national |
| 88 | Syracuse, NY | $66,140 | same as national |
| 89 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $65,840 | same as national |
| 90 | Billings, MT | $65,820 | same as national |
| 91 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $65,820 | same as national |
| 92 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $65,770 | 1% below national |
| 93 | Dubuque, IA | $65,760 | 1% below national |
| 94 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $65,470 | 1% below national |
| 95 | New Haven, CT | $65,400 | 1% below national |
| 96 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $65,380 | 1% below national |
| 97 | Santa Fe, NM | $65,370 | 1% below national |
| 98 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $65,310 | 1% below national |
| 99 | Modesto, CA | $65,230 | 1% below national |
| 100 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $65,160 | 1% below national |
| 101 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $65,090 | 2% below national |
| 102 | Fargo, ND-MN | $65,030 | 2% below national |
| 103 | Greenville, NC | $64,900 | 2% below national |
| 104 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $64,900 | 2% below national |
| 105 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $64,850 | 2% below national |
| 106 | Rochester, NY | $64,770 | 2% below national |
| 107 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $64,700 | 2% below national |
| 108 | Tulsa, OK | $64,610 | 2% below national |
| 109 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $64,590 | 2% below national |
| 110 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $64,500 | 2% below national |
| 111 | Longview, TX | $64,470 | 3% below national |
| 112 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $64,420 | 3% below national |
| 113 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $64,360 | 3% below national |
| 114 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $64,350 | 3% below national |
| 115 | Fresno, CA | $64,280 | 3% below national |
| 116 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $64,240 | 3% below national |
| 117 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $64,210 | 3% below national |
| 118 | Punta Gorda, FL | $64,200 | 3% below national |
| 119 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $64,140 | 3% below national |
| 120 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $64,140 | 3% below national |
| 121 | St. Cloud, MN | $64,130 | 3% below national |
| 122 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $64,130 | 3% below national |
| 123 | Columbia, SC | $64,110 | 3% below national |
| 124 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $63,950 | 3% below national |
| 125 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $63,940 | 3% below national |
| 126 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $63,930 | 3% below national |
| 127 | Bozeman, MT | $63,880 | 3% below national |
| 128 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $63,850 | 3% below national |
| 129 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $63,850 | 3% below national |
| 130 | State College, PA | $63,850 | 3% below national |
| 131 | Oklahoma City, OK | $63,840 | 3% below national |
| 132 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $63,820 | 4% below national |
| 133 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $63,770 | 4% below national |
| 134 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $63,770 | 4% below national |
| 135 | Ames, IA | $63,620 | 4% below national |
| 136 | Lancaster, PA | $63,570 | 4% below national |
| 137 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $63,570 | 4% below national |
| 138 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $63,520 | 4% below national |
| 139 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $63,500 | 4% below national |
| 140 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $63,450 | 4% below national |
| 141 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $63,450 | 4% below national |
| 142 | Rockford, IL | $63,440 | 4% below national |
| 143 | Redding, CA | $63,410 | 4% below national |
| 144 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $63,310 | 4% below national |
| 145 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $63,250 | 4% below national |
| 146 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $63,230 | 4% below national |
| 147 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $63,230 | 4% below national |
| 148 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $63,210 | 4% below national |
| 149 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $63,200 | 4% below national |
| 150 | Omaha, NE-IA | $63,200 | 4% below national |
| 151 | Spartanburg, SC | $63,200 | 4% below national |
| 152 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $63,200 | 4% below national |
| 153 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $63,180 | 4% below national |
| 154 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $63,170 | 5% below national |
| 155 | Boise City, ID | $63,160 | 5% below national |
| 156 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $63,120 | 5% below national |
| 157 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $63,120 | 5% below national |
| 158 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $63,120 | 5% below national |
| 159 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $63,070 | 5% below national |
| 160 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $63,070 | 5% below national |
| 161 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $62,970 | 5% below national |
| 162 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $62,960 | 5% below national |
| 163 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $62,900 | 5% below national |
| 164 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $62,890 | 5% below national |
| 165 | Richmond, VA | $62,830 | 5% below national |
| 166 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $62,780 | 5% below national |
| 167 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $62,780 | 5% below national |
| 168 | Akron, OH | $62,670 | 5% below national |
| 169 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $62,660 | 5% below national |
| 170 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $62,630 | 5% below national |
| 171 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $62,630 | 5% below national |
| 172 | Bellingham, WA | $62,620 | 5% below national |
| 173 | Bangor, ME | $62,610 | 5% below national |
| 174 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $62,550 | 5% below national |
| 175 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $62,500 | 6% below national |
| 176 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $62,480 | 6% below national |
| 177 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $62,460 | 6% below national |
| 178 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,430 | 6% below national |
| 179 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $62,420 | 6% below national |
| 180 | Charlottesville, VA | $62,400 | 6% below national |
| 181 | Green Bay, WI | $62,380 | 6% below national |
| 182 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $62,360 | 6% below national |
| 183 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $62,360 | 6% below national |
| 184 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $62,330 | 6% below national |
| 185 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $62,330 | 6% below national |
| 186 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $62,300 | 6% below national |
| 187 | Jacksonville, FL | $62,180 | 6% below national |
| 188 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $62,170 | 6% below national |
| 189 | Cleveland, OH | $62,130 | 6% below national |
| 190 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $62,080 | 6% below national |
| 191 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $62,030 | 6% below national |
| 192 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $62,020 | 6% below national |
| 193 | Ogden, UT | $61,980 | 6% below national |
| 194 | Corpus Christi, TX | $61,960 | 6% below national |
| 195 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,960 | 6% below national |
| 196 | Logan, UT-ID | $61,930 | 6% below national |
| 197 | Toledo, OH | $61,930 | 6% below national |
| 198 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $61,910 | 6% below national |
| 199 | Yuma, AZ | $61,900 | 6% below national |
| 200 | Appleton, WI | $61,890 | 6% below national |
| 201 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $61,860 | 6% below national |
| 202 | Colorado Springs, CO | $61,850 | 7% below national |
| 203 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $61,850 | 7% below national |
| 204 | Great Falls, MT | $61,790 | 7% below national |
| 205 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $61,760 | 7% below national |
| 206 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $61,740 | 7% below national |
| 207 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $61,720 | 7% below national |
| 208 | Williamsport, PA | $61,710 | 7% below national |
| 209 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $61,690 | 7% below national |
| 210 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $61,630 | 7% below national |
| 211 | Midland, TX | $61,610 | 7% below national |
| 212 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $61,590 | 7% below national |
| 213 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $61,570 | 7% below national |
| 214 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $61,540 | 7% below national |
| 215 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $61,490 | 7% below national |
| 216 | Flint, MI | $61,440 | 7% below national |
| 217 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $61,440 | 7% below national |
| 218 | Eau Claire, WI | $61,350 | 7% below national |
| 219 | Columbus, OH | $61,310 | 7% below national |
| 220 | Duluth, MN-WI | $61,270 | 7% below national |
| 221 | Kingston, NY | $61,230 | 7% below national |
| 222 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $61,200 | 7% below national |
| 223 | St. George, UT | $61,130 | 8% below national |
| 224 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $61,090 | 8% below national |
| 225 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $61,080 | 8% below national |
| 226 | Roanoke, VA | $61,080 | 8% below national |
| 227 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $61,000 | 8% below national |
| 228 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $60,990 | 8% below national |
| 229 | Yakima, WA | $60,950 | 8% below national |
| 230 | Charleston, WV | $60,920 | 8% below national |
| 231 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $60,910 | 8% below national |
| 232 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $60,880 | 8% below national |
| 233 | Springfield, MO | $60,880 | 8% below national |
| 234 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $60,800 | 8% below national |
| 235 | Reading, PA | $60,800 | 8% below national |
| 236 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $60,580 | 8% below national |
| 237 | Johnson City, TN | $60,530 | 8% below national |
| 238 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $60,520 | 9% below national |
| 239 | Gainesville, FL | $60,460 | 9% below national |
| 240 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $60,460 | 9% below national |
| 241 | Lawrence, KS | $60,380 | 9% below national |
| 242 | Erie, PA | $60,320 | 9% below national |
| 243 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $60,310 | 9% below national |
| 244 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $60,240 | 9% below national |
| 245 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $60,230 | 9% below national |
| 246 | Huntsville, AL | $60,170 | 9% below national |
| 247 | Iowa City, IA | $59,990 | 9% below national |
| 248 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $59,950 | 9% below national |
| 249 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $59,940 | 9% below national |
| 250 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $59,940 | 9% below national |
| 251 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $59,940 | 9% below national |
| 252 | Evansville, IN | $59,890 | 9% below national |
| 253 | Winchester, VA-WV | $59,860 | 10% below national |
| 254 | Wausau, WI | $59,850 | 10% below national |
| 255 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $59,820 | 10% below national |
| 256 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $59,820 | 10% below national |
| 257 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $59,760 | 10% below national |
| 258 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $59,740 | 10% below national |
| 259 | Lincoln, NE | $59,640 | 10% below national |
| 260 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $59,620 | 10% below national |
| 261 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $59,600 | 10% below national |
| 262 | Asheville, NC | $59,560 | 10% below national |
| 263 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $59,390 | 10% below national |
| 264 | Twin Falls, ID | $59,370 | 10% below national |
| 265 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $59,360 | 10% below national |
| 266 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $59,320 | 10% below national |
| 267 | Ann Arbor, MI | $59,280 | 10% below national |
| 268 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $59,230 | 10% below national |
| 269 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $58,990 | 11% below national |
| 270 | Amarillo, TX | $58,900 | 11% below national |
| 271 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $58,860 | 11% below national |
| 272 | Peoria, IL | $58,820 | 11% below national |
| 273 | Terre Haute, IN | $58,820 | 11% below national |
| 274 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $58,810 | 11% below national |
| 275 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,800 | 11% below national |
| 276 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $58,780 | 11% below national |
| 277 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $58,760 | 11% below national |
| 278 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $58,760 | 11% below national |
| 279 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $58,750 | 11% below national |
| 280 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $58,730 | 11% below national |
| 281 | Joplin, MO-KS | $58,690 | 11% below national |
| 282 | Ocala, FL | $58,660 | 11% below national |
| 283 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $58,660 | 11% below national |
| 284 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $58,640 | 11% below national |
| 285 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $58,630 | 11% below national |
| 286 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $58,630 | 11% below national |
| 287 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $58,570 | 11% below national |
| 288 | Chambersburg, PA | $58,550 | 11% below national |
| 289 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $58,430 | 12% below national |
| 290 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,420 | 12% below national |
| 291 | Grand Junction, CO | $58,350 | 12% below national |
| 292 | Idaho Falls, ID | $58,310 | 12% below national |
| 293 | Abilene, TX | $58,290 | 12% below national |
| 294 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $58,290 | 12% below national |
| 295 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $58,240 | 12% below national |
| 296 | Tyler, TX | $58,230 | 12% below national |
| 297 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $58,230 | 12% below national |
| 298 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $58,180 | 12% below national |
| 299 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $58,180 | 12% below national |
| 300 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $58,100 | 12% below national |
| 301 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $58,080 | 12% below national |
| 302 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $57,990 | 12% below national |
| 303 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $57,940 | 12% below national |
| 304 | Jackson, MS | $57,790 | 13% below national |
| 305 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $57,730 | 13% below national |
| 306 | Waco, TX | $57,650 | 13% below national |
| 307 | Valdosta, GA | $57,540 | 13% below national |
| 308 | Birmingham, AL | $57,510 | 13% below national |
| 309 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $57,450 | 13% below national |
| 310 | Columbia, MO | $57,410 | 13% below national |
| 311 | Lynchburg, VA | $57,310 | 13% below national |
| 312 | Rapid City, SD | $57,300 | 13% below national |
| 313 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $57,290 | 13% below national |
| 314 | Winston-Salem, NC | $57,180 | 14% below national |
| 315 | Fort Wayne, IN | $57,110 | 14% below national |
| 316 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $57,060 | 14% below national |
| 317 | Las Cruces, NM | $56,980 | 14% below national |
| 318 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $56,900 | 14% below national |
| 319 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $56,810 | 14% below national |
| 320 | Mobile, AL | $56,800 | 14% below national |
| 321 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $56,630 | 14% below national |
| 322 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $56,570 | 14% below national |
| 323 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $56,540 | 15% below national |
| 324 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $56,460 | 15% below national |
| 325 | Columbus, GA-AL | $56,430 | 15% below national |
| 326 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $56,400 | 15% below national |
| 327 | Wichita, KS | $56,270 | 15% below national |
| 328 | Fayetteville, NC | $56,120 | 15% below national |
| 329 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $56,070 | 15% below national |
| 330 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $55,770 | 16% below national |
| 331 | Tallahassee, FL | $55,710 | 16% below national |
| 332 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $55,640 | 16% below national |
| 333 | El Paso, TX | $54,840 | 17% below national |
| 334 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $54,620 | 17% below national |
| 335 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $53,730 | 19% below national |
| 336 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $53,500 | 19% below national |
| 337 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $53,200 | 20% below national |
| 338 | Albany, GA | $52,990 | 20% below national |
| 339 | Bowling Green, KY | $52,980 | 20% below national |
| 340 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $52,790 | 20% below national |
| 341 | Lubbock, TX | $52,780 | 20% below national |
| 342 | Johnstown, PA | $52,750 | 20% below national |
| 343 | Montgomery, AL | $52,550 | 21% below national |
| 344 | Bloomington, IN | $52,410 | 21% below national |
| 345 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $52,270 | 21% below national |
| 346 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $52,260 | 21% below national |
| 347 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $52,110 | 21% below national |
| 348 | Traverse City, MI | $52,050 | 21% below national |
| 349 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $51,920 | 22% below national |
| 350 | Pocatello, ID | $51,900 | 22% below national |
| 351 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $51,390 | 22% below national |
| 352 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $51,370 | 22% below national |
| 353 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $51,090 | 23% below national |
| 354 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $50,950 | 23% below national |
| 355 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $50,580 | 24% below national |
| 356 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $50,580 | 24% below national |
| 357 | Lafayette, LA | $49,990 | 24% below national |
| 358 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $49,660 | 25% below national |
| 359 | Dothan, AL | $49,260 | 26% below national |
| 360 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $48,880 | 26% below national |
| 361 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $48,710 | 26% below national |
| 362 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $48,520 | 27% below national |
| 363 | Pueblo, CO | $48,060 | 27% below national |
| 364 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $47,790 | 28% below national |
| 365 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $47,460 | 28% below national |
| 366 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $47,450 | 28% below national |
| 367 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $47,040 | 29% below national |
| 368 | Albuquerque, NM | $46,740 | 29% below national |
| 369 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $46,660 | 29% below national |
| 370 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $45,180 | 32% below national |
| 371 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $45,070 | 32% below national |
| 372 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $44,720 | 32% below national |
| 373 | Ponce, PR | $36,940 | 44% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 17 (architecture and engineering) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Architectural and Civil Drafters make? ▼
The median annual salary for Architectural and Civil Drafters is $66,150 ($31.80/hour). The salary range spans from $46,260 at the 10th percentile to $99,710 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Architectural and Civil Drafters the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Architectural and Civil Drafters at $97,880/year, which is +48% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Architectural and Civil Drafters? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Architectural and Civil Drafters is Associate's degree.
How dangerous is being a Architectural and Civil Drafters? ▼
Architectural and Civil Drafters has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 2 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.5 per 100 workers.
Is Architectural and Civil Drafters a good career? ▼
Employment for Architectural and Civil Drafters is projected to grow 4.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 10,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Architectural and Civil Drafters pay vary by state? ▼
Architectural and Civil Drafters salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $97,880/year, while Alabama pays the least at $57,100/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Architectural and Civil Drafters? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Architectural and Civil Drafters is Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT at $84,440/year. BLS reports wage data for 373 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Architectural and Civil Drafters pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $80,870/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $97,880/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.