Best cities for an architectural drafter
The best cities for architectural drafters are Lexington, KY, Cleveland, OH, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for architectural drafters vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for architectural drafters in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an architectural drafter or considering a move, this list of the best cities for architectural drafters to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for architectural drafters. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an architectural drafter. While the absolute best city for architectural drafters is Lexington, KY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for architectural drafters in 2024.
10 best cities for architectural drafters in 2025
1. Lexington, KY
Total architectural drafter jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $50,278 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 11.47 2. Cleveland, OH
Total architectural drafter jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $47,323 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 5.39 3. Boston, MA
Total architectural drafter jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $56,034 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location quotient: 9.18 4. Chicago, IL
Total architectural drafter jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $55,575 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 6.35 5. Scottsdale, AZ
Total architectural drafter jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $50,256 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 27.45 6. Oklahoma City, OK
Total architectural drafter jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $49,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 5.58 7. Philadelphia, PA
Total architectural drafter jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $49,686 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 4.43 8. Tucson, AZ
Total architectural drafter jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $49,800 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 7.57 9. Pittsburgh, PA
Total architectural drafter jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $47,627 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 1.89 10. Portland, OR
Total architectural drafter jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $54,499 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location quotient: 3.77
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Best cities for architectural drafters
- Lexington, KY
- Cleveland, OH
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Tucson, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- (5 architectural drafter jobs)
- (6 architectural drafter jobs)
- (46 architectural drafter jobs)
- (44 architectural drafter jobs)
- (20 architectural drafter jobs)
- (8 architectural drafter jobs)
- (15 architectural drafter jobs)
- (6 architectural drafter jobs)
- (4 architectural drafter jobs)
- (9 architectural drafter jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an architectural drafter
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington, KY | $50,278 | $37,000 | 318,449 | 5 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $47,323 | $34,000 | 385,809 | 6 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $56,034 | $40,000 | 673,184 | 46 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $55,575 | $41,000 | 2,704,958 | 44 |
| 5 | Scottsdale, AZ | $50,256 | $38,000 | 246,645 | 20 |
| 6 | Oklahoma City, OK | $49,027 | $37,000 | 638,367 | 8 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,686 | $35,000 | 1,567,872 | 15 |
| 8 | Tucson, AZ | $49,800 | $37,000 | 530,706 | 6 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh, PA | $47,627 | $34,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $54,499 | $42,000 | 639,863 | 9 |
| 11 | Nashville, TN | $49,402 | $37,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | $49,382 | $37,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $46,122 | $34,000 | 860,090 | 5 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,657 | $36,000 | 632,912 | 10 |
| 15 | Laredo, TX | $46,331 | $35,000 | 257,156 | 6 |
| 16 | Newark, NJ | $56,273 | $40,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $49,489 | $37,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 18 | New York, NY | $55,050 | $39,000 | 8,537,673 | 83 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $47,734 | $34,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 20 | Toledo, OH | $46,792 | $34,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,277 | $38,000 | 1,615,017 | 14 |
| 22 | Louisville, KY | $50,120 | $37,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 23 | Durham, NC | $47,765 | $34,000 | 263,016 | 3 |
| 24 | Fort Wayne, IN | $50,338 | $37,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 25 | Oakland, CA | $57,148 | $43,000 | 420,005 | 8 |
| 26 | El Paso, TX | $46,754 | $35,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $54,846 | $43,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 28 | Buffalo, NY | $53,859 | $39,000 | 256,902 | 11 |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $45,599 | $34,000 | 2,303,482 | 64 |
| 30 | Tulsa, OK | $48,831 | $37,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 31 | San Francisco, CA | $57,200 | $43,000 | 870,887 | 53 |
| 32 | Dallas, TX | $45,322 | $34,000 | 1,317,929 | 36 |
| 33 | Reno, NV | $49,663 | $38,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 34 | Jersey City, NJ | $56,309 | $40,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 35 | Charlotte, NC | $46,824 | $34,000 | 842,051 | 6 |
| 36 | Glendale, AZ | $50,288 | $38,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 37 | Greensboro, NC | $47,541 | $34,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 38 | Saint Louis, MO | $48,536 | $37,000 | 311,404 | 4 |
| 39 | Winston-Salem, NC | $47,421 | $34,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 40 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,266 | $35,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 41 | Chandler, AZ | $50,184 | $38,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 42 | Omaha, NE | $44,953 | $34,000 | 446,970 | 5 |
| 43 | Mesa, AZ | $50,179 | $38,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 44 | Los Angeles, CA | $55,631 | $42,000 | 3,976,322 | 95 |
| 45 | Gilbert, AZ | $50,167 | $38,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 46 | Cincinnati, OH | $45,368 | $33,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 47 | Milwaukee, WI | $47,327 | $35,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 48 | Denver, CO | $51,519 | $40,000 | 693,060 | 14 |
| 49 | San Antonio, TX | $46,016 | $34,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 50 | North Las Vegas, NV | $48,624 | $36,000 | 238,702 | - |
Highest paying cities for architectural drafters
| Rank | City | Avg. architectural drafter salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $57,985 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $57,200 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $56,034 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $55,575 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $55,050 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $54,846 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $54,499 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $53,931 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $51,519 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,277 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,686 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $49,027 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,657 |
| 14 | Sterling, VA | $47,461 |
| 15 | Laredo, TX | $46,331 |
| 16 | Coral Gables, FL | $45,730 |
| 17 | Kennesaw, GA | $44,750 |
| 18 | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,826 |
Architectural drafter best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025