Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for architectural and civil drafters in the U.S. is $66,150 ($31.80 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $66,150
- Mean annual wage
- $70,740
- Median hourly wage
- $31.80
- Employment
- 103,700
103,700 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| 25th percentile | $55,650 | $26.76 |
| Median (50th) | $66,150 | $31.80 |
| 75th percentile | $80,870 | $38.88 |
| 90th percentile | $99,710 | $47.94 |
Highest-paying states for architectural and civil drafters
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $97,880 | 370 |
| Massachusetts | $76,990 | 2,660 |
| California | $76,520 | 11,400 |
| Colorado | $76,370 | 3,570 |
| Connecticut | $76,290 | 810 |
| New York | $76,260 | 7,380 |
| Maryland | $75,180 | 910 |
| Georgia | $74,940 | 3,970 |
| Oregon | $74,000 | 1,490 |
| Delaware | $73,040 | 290 |
Lowest-paying states
- New Mexico: $50,230 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $52,470 median annual wage
- Alabama: $57,100 median annual wage
- Illinois: $58,240 median annual wage
- Michigan: $58,330 median annual wage
About this occupation
Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.
Typical tasks
- Calculate heat loss and gain of buildings and structures to determine required equipment specifications, following standard procedures.
- Reproduce drawings on copy machines or trace copies of plans and drawings, using transparent paper or cloth, ink, pencil, and standard drafting instruments.
- Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
- Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
- Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.
- Create freehand drawings and lettering to accompany drawings.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Associate's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 28.5% |
| Associate's degree | 32.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 22.6% |
| Master's degree | 5.2% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.7% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Civil Engineers$100,840
- Industrial Engineers$102,440
- Mechanical Engineers$104,110
- Electrical Engineers$120,630
- Engineers, All Other$122,930
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$99,280
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$130,220
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,190
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.