📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
Average
$64,680
per year
Median
$61,430
per year
Hourly
$31.1
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$42,200
25th Percentile — Junior$53,882
50th Percentile — Median$61,430
75th Percentile — Senior$80,167
90th Percentile — Top Earners$89,875
💡 The top 10% of Architectural and Civil Drafterss earn $89,875 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $42,200, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$55.3k
2021
$57.0k
2022
$58.8k
2023
$60.7k
2024
$62.7k
2025
$64.7k
2026
📈 Architectural and Civil Drafters salaries have grown 3.2% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $9,425.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $100,254 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $98,314 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $91,846 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $89,258 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $85,378 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $84,084 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $82,790 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $80,850 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $78,910 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $74,382 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $74,382 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $73,735 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $72,442 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $71,148 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $71,148 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $69,854 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $67,914 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $67,914 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $65,974 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $65,974 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $64,680 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $64,680 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $64,033 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $64,033 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $63,386 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $61,446 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $61,446 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $60,152 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $60,152 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $60,152 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $59,506 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $59,506 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $58,859 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $58,212 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $56,918 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $56,918 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $56,918 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $56,918 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $56,918 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $56,918 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $56,272 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $56,272 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $56,272 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $55,625 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $54,978 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $54,978 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $54,331 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $53,684 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $53,684 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $51,744 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $50,450 | -22.0% | Medium |
What Factors Affect Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Architectural and Civil Drafters's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Architectural and Civil Drafterss typically earn $42,200–$53,882 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $80,167–$89,875 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Architectural and Civil Drafters role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 3.2% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Engineering sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Architectural and Civil Drafters?The average salary for a Architectural and Civil Drafters in the United States is $64,680 per year, with a median of $61,430.
-
What is the starting salary for a Architectural and Civil Drafters?Entry-level Architectural and Civil Drafterss typically earn between $42,200 and $53,882 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Architectural and Civil Drafterss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Architectural and Civil Drafterss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Architectural and Civil Drafters make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $64,680, a Architectural and Civil Drafters earns approximately $31.1 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Architectural and Civil Drafters a good career in 2026?Yes — the Architectural and Civil Drafters role has medium demand with 3.2% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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