Architectural Drafter/Designer Salary in the United States

How much does an Architectural Drafter/Designer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Architectural Drafter/Designer in the United States is $97,350 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, an Architectural Drafter/Designer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $115,491
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,200 to $106,846
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,779
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View as table View as graph 25% $89,200 10% $81,779 90% $115,491 75% $106,846 $97,350 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Architectural Drafter/Designer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $106,846 $8,904 $2,055 $51
Average $97,350 $8,113 $1,872 $47
25th Percentile $89,200 $7,433 $1,715 $43
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Key Factors That Influence Architectural Drafter/Designer Salaries

An Architectural Drafter/Designer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Architectural Drafter/Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Architectural Drafter/Designer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $63,765
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $77,434
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $95,372
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $114,195
  • Expert (over 8 years): $134,380
Levels Salary
Architect... Level Architectural Drafter/Designer$63,765
Architect... Level Architectural Drafter/Designer$77,434
Architect... Level Architectural Drafter/Designer$95,372
Architect... Level Architectural Drafter/Designer$114,195
Architect... Level Architectural Drafter/Designer$134,380
$63,765 0 yr
$77,434 < 2 yrs
$95,372 2-4 yrs
$114,195 5-8 yrs
$134,380 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Architectural Drafter/Designer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Architectural Drafter/Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $107,786.
  • California: $107,377.
  • Massachusetts: $105,946.

Top Paying Cities for Architectural Drafter/Designers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $122,788
  • San Francisco: $121,581
  • Oakland: $118,884

What Skills Can Increase an Architectural Drafter/Designer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.15% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Construction Administration (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): The process that the designer goes through to stay involved during the construction process to help solve problems and assist with delivering high-quality projects.
  • Conceptual Design (Mentioned in 1.31% Job Postings): Conceptual Design is an early phase of the design process, in which the broad outlines of function and form of something are articulated. It includes the design of interactions, experiences, processes and strategies. It involves an understanding of people's needs - and how to meet them with products, services, & processes. Common artifacts of conceptual design are concept sketches and models.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.15%
Construction Administration 2.11%
Conceptual Design 1.31%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Architectural Drafter/Designer's salary.
  • API: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Azure: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • ERP: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
API
 $108,059
11%
Azure
 $108,059
11%
ERP
 $107,085
10%
Oracle
 $106,112
9%
Insight
 $104,165
7%
Analysis
 $101,244
4%
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How Education impacts an Architectural Drafter/Designer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Architectural Drafter/Designers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Architectural Drafter/Designer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $98,345 and $104,968).

Architectural Drafter/Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Architectural Drafter/Designer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 0.6%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 46.0%
Masters 51.6%
Doctorate 0.8%
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Architectural Drafter/Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Architectural Drafter/Designer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$89,200
Average $97,350/year
$106,846
$7,433
Average $8,113/month
$8,904
$1,715
Average $1,872/week
$2,055
$43
Average $47/hour
$51
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $106,846 $8,904 $2,055 $51
Average $97,350 $8,113 $1,872 $47
25th Percentile $89,200 $7,433 $1,715 $43

Salaries of jobs related to Architectural Drafter/Designer

Salary Trends for Architectural Drafter/Designer

Salaries for an Architectural Drafter/Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $83,336 in 2023 to around $82,255 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Architectural Drafter/Designer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Architectural Drafter/Designer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$83,336
2024
$83,079
2025
$82,255
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $83,336
2024 $83,079
2025 $82,255
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Architectural Drafter/Designer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Architectural Drafter/Designer

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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