Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
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.
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.
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
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.
| 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 |
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 |
An architectural draftsman's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.

| 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 |
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:
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 |
The average architectural draftsman salary varies across industries:
| 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 |
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.
Compare architectural draftsman salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| 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% |
| 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 |
Search for architectural draftsman jobs