Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Associate's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Architectural and civil drafters work at the intersection of technical precision and creative problem solving. With national employment of 110,000 and a projected employment growth rate of 4.1%, this field offers a defined but steadily expanding pool of opportunities. The national median annual salary of $64,280 reflects the value placed on combining computers and information technology with mathematics, science, and strong attention to detail. Success in this career draws on creativity and innovation, critical and analytical thinking, and solid writing and reading skills. Problem solving, decision making, and adaptability also play a key role, supported by fine motor skills for precise drafting tasks. For students and career changers interested in the built environment and technical design work, this occupation offers a structured pathway, clear educational expectations, and a variety of geographic options, from national-level roles to strong opportunities in specific states and metros. Overall, it can be a compelling choice for those who enjoy detailed, technology-enabled design work with a stable growth outlook.
Architectural and civil drafters earn a national median annual salary of $64,280, providing a solid earnings baseline across the occupation. Pay can vary significantly by location. Several states stand out with higher median salaries, including Massachusetts at $76,990, California at $76,520, and New York at $76,260. Colorado and Washington also show elevated median salaries of $76,370 and $73,000, respectively. At the metro level, earnings can rise even further. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro reports a median salary of $82,820, while San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reaches $81,130. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro shows a median of $79,310, and the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro comes in at $77,170. These figures suggest that drafters willing to target specific states or metros may see higher earning potential than the national median, especially in the highlighted high-opportunity areas.
Architectural and civil drafters have a national employment base of 110,000, with projected employment growth of 4.1%. This growth rate indicates that the field is expected to expand over time rather than contract. With 10,000 annual openings, there should be ongoing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced professionals. These openings reflect a mix of new positions created by growth and positions that need to be filled as workers move to other roles or retire. The consistent 4.1% projected growth shown across the highlighted states and metro areas suggests a broadly similar outlook in multiple regions, rather than growth being limited to just one area. For individuals considering long-term career planning, these figures point to a field with steady demand and a recurring flow of job opportunities, which can support both early-career entry and later career moves within the profession.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for architectural and civil drafters. At the state level, California, Massachusetts, and New York offer some of the strongest combinations of salary and employment. California has a median salary of $76,520 with 11,400 employed and an opportunity score of 67.38, the highest among the listed states. Massachusetts shows a slightly higher median salary of $76,990 with 2,660 employed and an opportunity score of 65.87, while New York’s median salary is $76,260 with 7,380 employed and an opportunity score of 65.78. Colorado and Washington also present strong options, with median salaries above $73,000 and solid opportunity scores. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with the top opportunity scores (77.42 and 77.27) and median salaries above $77,000. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also combine higher pay with notable employment levels, giving job seekers several distinct regional strategies to consider.
The typical education level for architectural and civil drafters is an associate’s degree. This provides a clear and attainable entry pathway for students and career changers who want to move into a technical design role without pursuing a four-year degree. Beyond formal education, success in this occupation depends on a well-rounded skill set. Key skills include computers and information technology and mathematics, which support the technical and quantitative aspects of drafting. Science knowledge and critical and analytical thinking help with understanding and interpreting technical information. Creativity and innovation, combined with being detail oriented, are important for producing accurate and usable drawings. Strong writing and reading skills support documentation and communication, while problem solving and decision making enable drafters to address design challenges. Adaptability and fine motor skills round out the profile, helping professionals work precisely and adjust as project needs evolve. Together, the associate’s degree and these skills form the core preparation for this career.
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