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Architectural draftsman salary
Average architectural draftsman salary
$52,382
Average Architectural Draftsman Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Architectural Draftsman stands at $52,382 per year. Various elements contribute to salary differences, including geographic location, years of experience, and industry specialization. For instance, architectural draftsmen in states like California and New York often earn higher wages due to elevated living costs and demand for skilled professionals.
Salaries by Experience Level
Entry-level draftsmen typically start at lower salary ranges, while those with more experience can significantly increase their earnings. Understanding the salary landscape can help professionals in the field make informed career decisions and seek opportunities for advancement.
Where to Find Higher Salaries
Researching job openings in metropolitan areas or firms renowned for architectural services may lead to better compensation. Utilizing platforms like Zippia can provide insights into salary trends and job postings for architectural draftsmen.
Let Zippia find your next architectural draftsman job
Let Zippia find your next architectural draftsman job
Where can an Architectural Draftsman earn more?
Architectural draftsman salaries by experience level
Architectural draftsman salary estimates from across the web
Average architectural draftsman salary by state
The highest-paying states for architectural draftsmen are Vermont, Rhode Island, and California. The lowest average architectural draftsman salary states are Idaho, Kansas, and Michigan.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for architectural draftsmen
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $63,145 | $30.36 |
| 2 | Oregon | $55,772 | $26.81 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $59,706 | $28.70 |
| 4 | Vermont | $63,416 | $30.49 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $61,286 | $29.46 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $59,512 | $28.61 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $56,154 | $27.00 |
| 8 | Washington | $55,694 | $26.78 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $52,271 | $25.13 |
| 10 | Illinois | $57,840 | $27.81 |
| 11 | California | $59,815 | $28.76 |
| 12 | Arizona | $52,175 | $25.08 |
| 13 | Texas | $53,288 | $25.62 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $52,456 | $25.22 |
| 15 | Indiana | $52,009 | $25.00 |
| 16 | Colorado | $53,966 | $25.95 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $55,705 | $26.78 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $51,303 | $24.66 |
| 19 | Montana | $53,255 | $25.60 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $52,902 | $25.43 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $54,260 | $26.09 |
| 22 | Maryland | $56,841 | $27.33 |
| 23 | Missouri | $51,448 | $24.73 |
| 24 | New York | $57,246 | $27.52 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $52,059 | $25.03 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $55,339 | $26.61 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $49,069 | $23.59 |
| 28 | Utah | $50,498 | $24.28 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $50,015 | $24.05 |
| 30 | Maine | $50,401 | $24.23 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $51,448 | $24.73 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $48,928 | $23.52 |
| 33 | Alaska | $47,790 | $22.98 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $54,930 | $26.41 |
| 35 | Ohio | $48,624 | $23.38 |
| 36 | Nevada | $50,351 | $24.21 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $47,608 | $22.89 |
| 38 | Iowa | $47,733 | $22.95 |
| 39 | Delaware | $51,548 | $24.78 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $47,350 | $22.76 |
| 41 | Georgia | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| 42 | Florida | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| 43 | Virginia | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $47,834 | $23.00 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| 46 | Idaho | $46,527 | $22.37 |
| 47 | Michigan | $44,835 | $21.56 |
| 48 | Kansas | $46,382 | $22.30 |
| 49 | Alabama | $40,618 | $19.53 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $43,627 | $20.97 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $43,244 | $20.79 |
Highest paying cities for architectural draftsmen
The highest-paying cities for architectural draftsmen are Campbell, CA, New York, NY, and Fargo, ND.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campbell, CA | $60,784 | $29.22 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $57,316 | $27.56 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $56,072 | $26.96 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $53,093 | $25.53 |
| 5 | Oklahoma City, OK | $51,495 | $24.76 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $49,539 | $23.82 |
Architectural draftsman salary details
An architectural draftsman's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an architectural draftsman's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $52,382 | $4,365 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
Highest paying architectural draftsman jobs
The highest paying types of architectural draftsmen are architectural technician, architectural designer, and autocad designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truss Designer | $50,866 | $4,239 | $24.45 | 45,424 |
| Drafting Internship | $42,284 | $3,524 | $20.33 | 51,193 |
| Autocad Designer | $55,786 | $4,649 | $26.82 | 46,459 |
| Drafter | $43,542 | $3,629 | $20.93 | 3,968 |
| Computer Aided Drafter | $43,520 | $3,627 | $20.92 | 16,907 |
| Cadd Drafter | $49,161 | $4,097 | $23.64 | 2,268 |
Top companies hiring architectural draftsmen now:
Which companies pay architectural draftsmen the most?
Architectural draftsman salaries at Laguarda.Low Architects and Huen Electric are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average architectural draftsman salary at companies like Infinium and R.M. Schulte & Associates are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laguarda.Low Architects | $57,886 | $27.83 |
| 2 | Huen Electric | $50,086 | $24.08 |
| 3 | Infinium | $47,746 | $22.95 |
| 4 | R.M. Schulte & Associates | $41,224 | $19.82 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Architectural Draftsman salary by industry
The average architectural draftsman salary varies across industries:
- The average architectural draftsman salary in the construction industry is $54,834, the highest of any industry.
- The average architectural draftsman salary in the finance industry is $54,630.
- Architectural draftsmen in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $44,190, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for architectural draftsmen
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $54,834 | $26.36 |
| 2 | Technology | $54,630 | $26.26 |
| 3 | Professional | $54,413 | $26.16 |
| 4 | Transportation | $50,808 | $24.43 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $44,190 | $21.25 |
High paying architectural draftsman jobs
Architectural draftsman salary trends
The average architectural draftsman salary has risen by $9,338 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average architectural draftsman earned $43,044 annually, but today, they earn $52,382 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for architectural draftsmen over the last decade.
Compare architectural draftsman salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average architectural draftsman salary over time
Compare architectural draftsman salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Architectural draftsman salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,400 | $25.18 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | $51,300 | $24.68 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $50,000 | $24.05 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $48,200 | $23.16 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $47,000 | $22.62 | +1.8% |
Recently added architectural draftsman salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University | Architectural Draftsman II | Carbondale, IL | 06/06/2025 | $33,121 |
| Cash & Carry Lumber | Architectural Draftsman | Fargo, ND | 01/25/2025 | $50,000 |
| A.B. Design Group | Architectural Draftsman | Tampa, FL | 01/03/2025 | $40,000 |
| The Arsh Group Inc. | Architectural Draftsman/Designer | Merrillville, IN | 11/21/2024 | $37,566 |
| Residential Home Builder | Architectural Draftsman | Madison, WI | 09/17/2024 | $60,000 |
| A.B. Design Group | Architectural Draftsman | Tampa, FL | 09/04/2024 | $40,000 |
| Cash & Carry Lumber | Architectural Draftsman/Estimator | Fargo, ND | 08/19/2024 | $41,740 |
| Cash & Carry Lumber | Architectural Draftsman/Estimator | Fargo, ND | 07/20/2024 | $41,740 |
| Cash & Carry Lumber | Architectural Draftsman/Estimator | Fargo, ND | 07/20/2024 | $41,740 |
| A.B. Design Group | Architectural Draftsman | Tampa, FL | 07/11/2024 | $40,000 |
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