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Architectural and Civil Drafters

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Home › Architecture and Engineering › Architectural and Civil Drafters
Average base salary
$73,000 / year
≈ $6,100 per month · $35.10 per hour

25th percentile
$57,500Average
$73,00075th percentile
$83,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by state
Alabama$60,000
Arizona$72,000
Arkansas$68,000
California$83,000
Colorado$81,000
Connecticut$75,500
Delaware$72,500
District of Columbia$100,500
Florida$68,000
Georgia$77,500
Hawaii$70,500
Idaho$69,000
Illinois$65,500
Indiana$66,500
Iowa$72,000
Kansas$66,000
Kentucky$65,000
Louisiana$71,000
Maine$70,500
Maryland$78,500
Massachusetts$80,000
Michigan$64,500
Minnesota$74,500
Mississippi$63,000
Missouri$69,000
Montana$70,000
Nebraska$68,500
Nevada$75,500
New Hampshire$71,500
New Jersey$70,000
New Mexico$60,000
New York$81,000
North Carolina$69,000
North Dakota$70,000
Ohio$66,500
Oklahoma$66,500
Oregon$77,000
Pennsylvania$71,500
Rhode Island$76,500
South Carolina$70,500
South Dakota$57,500
Tennessee$73,000
Texas$71,000
Utah$72,000
Vermont$64,000
Virginia$70,000
Washington$77,000
West Virginia$70,500
Wisconsin$71,500
Wyoming$66,500
About this role

Architectural and Civil Drafters is a professional role in the Architecture and Engineering job family, focused on Architectural and Civil Drafters work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Architectural and Civil Drafterss do
  • 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.

Top skills: Reading Comprehension Systems Analysis Complex Problem Solving Writing Critical Thinking Active Learning

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay by experience level
Entry level$48,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$57,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$68,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$83,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$103,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4.1%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
10,000
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

75,130 workers

$73,000

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services

73,450 workers

$73,000

Construction of Buildings

6,210 workers

$75,000

Specialty Trade Contractors

5,130 workers

$78,500

Residential Building Construction

4,080 workers

$73,000

Wood Product Manufacturing

2,240 workers

$65,500

Management of Companies and Enterprises

2,150 workers

$84,500

Management of Companies and Enterprises

2,150 workers

$84,500

Nonresidential Building Construction

2,130 workers

$78,500

Building Equipment Contractors

1,850 workers

$79,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares

Architectural and Civil Drafters pays 32% below the average across 59 roles in the Architecture and Engineering job family (family average $108,000).

Similar-paying roles in Architecture and Engineering
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,000
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,500
Drafters, All Other$70,500
Calibration Technologists and Technicians$77,000
Mechanical Drafter$77,500
Automotive Engineering Technician$79,000
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,000
Geodetic Surveyor$83,500
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$84,000
Surveying and Mapping Technicians$60,000
Careers related to Architectural and Civil Drafters
Mechanical Drafter$77,500
Electrical and Electronics Drafters$84,000
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,500
Automotive Engineering Technician$79,000
Civil Engineer$112,500
Architectural and Engineering Managers$188,000
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions

How much does a Architectural and Civil Drafters make?

The average base salary for a Architectural and Civil Drafters in the United States is $73,000 per year, or about $35.10 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $57,500 and $83,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Architecture and Engineering roles?

The Architecture and Engineering job family averages $108,000 across 59 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

Explore Market DataOur Methodology

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