Architectural and Civil Drafter salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
An architectural and civil drafter earns a median of $66,150 a year ($31.80 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $70,740. About 103,700 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $66,150
- Gross pay
- $2,544.23
- Federal income tax
- −$221.46
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$157.74
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$36.89
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,128.14
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $66,150
- Federal
- $5,758
- FICA
- $5,060
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $55,332
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Architectural and Civil Drafter salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $97,880 | $96,900 | 370 |
| Massachusetts | $76,990 | $77,110 | 2,660 |
| California | $76,520 | $80,360 | 11,400 |
| Colorado | $76,370 | $78,240 | 3,570 |
| Connecticut | $76,290 | $73,150 | 810 |
| New York | $76,260 | $78,160 | 7,380 |
| Maryland | $75,180 | $75,990 | 910 |
| Georgia | $74,940 | $75,040 | 3,970 |
| Oregon | $74,000 | $74,430 | 1,490 |
| Delaware | $73,040 | $70,130 | 290 |
| Washington | $73,000 | $74,420 | 2,530 |
| Rhode Island | $71,700 | $73,900 | 240 |
| Minnesota | $70,680 | $72,220 | 1,930 |
| Tennessee | $69,220 | $70,720 | 1,310 |
| Nevada | $67,000 | $72,990 | 1,100 |
| Maine | $66,200 | $68,240 | 440 |
| Montana | $65,750 | $67,500 | 600 |
| West Virginia | $65,640 | $68,290 | 330 |
| New Hampshire | $65,300 | $68,940 | 400 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,800 | $69,080 | 5,370 |
| Arizona | $64,750 | $69,550 | 2,120 |
| North Dakota | $64,720 | $67,570 | 380 |
| South Carolina | $64,680 | $68,320 | 1,170 |
| Utah | $64,290 | $69,460 | 1,820 |
| Iowa | $64,220 | $69,410 | 980 |
| Wyoming | $63,730 | $64,460 | 200 |
| Hawaii | $63,510 | $68,230 | 610 |
| Virginia | $63,450 | $67,510 | 2,600 |
| Texas | $63,320 | $68,600 | 11,710 |
| New Jersey | $62,960 | $67,820 | 2,280 |
| Wisconsin | $62,930 | $68,880 | 2,200 |
| North Carolina | $62,750 | $66,430 | 2,680 |
| Florida | $62,640 | $65,550 | 7,530 |
| Arkansas | $62,420 | $65,910 | 980 |
| Kansas | $62,220 | $63,790 | 630 |
| Oklahoma | $62,140 | $64,410 | 1,260 |
| Missouri | $61,940 | $66,460 | 2,270 |
| Idaho | $61,840 | $66,900 | 1,010 |
| Nebraska | $61,550 | $65,950 | 850 |
| Ohio | $61,450 | $64,030 | 2,860 |
| Louisiana | $61,010 | $68,500 | 1,040 |
| Vermont | $61,000 | $61,820 | 230 |
| Kentucky | $60,120 | $62,850 | 870 |
| Indiana | $60,000 | $64,350 | 2,240 |
| Mississippi | $59,920 | $60,660 | 330 |
| Michigan | $58,330 | $62,210 | 2,100 |
| Illinois | $58,240 | $63,050 | 1,310 |
| Alabama | $57,100 | $57,890 | 1,010 |
| South Dakota | $52,470 | $55,530 | 460 |
| New Mexico | $50,230 | $57,740 | 690 |
Similar jobs
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician: $66,120
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician: $64,950
- Calibration Technologist and Technician: $67,820
- Drafter: $63,520
- Mechanical Drafter: $71,550
- Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician: $59,920
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician: $73,900
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician: $74,510
BLS occupation: Architectural and Civil Drafters. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 17-3011). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an architectural and civil drafter make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $31.80; the average is $34.01.
Which state pays architectural and civil drafters the most?
District of Columbia ($97,880 median), followed by Massachusetts and California.
What is the salary range for an architectural and civil drafter?
The bottom 10% earn under $46,260 and the top 10% earn over $99,710 a year.
How much is $66,150 after taxes?
About $55,332 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $52,405 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.