Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer in the United States is $57,149 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $71,751
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,886 to $64,792
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,006
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View as table View as graph 25% $52,886 10% $49,006 90% $71,751 75% $64,792 $57,149 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $64,792 $5,399 $1,246 $31
Average $57,149 $4,762 $1,099 $27
25th Percentile $52,886 $4,407 $1,017 $25
Check out Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer Job Openings in the United States
Architectural Designer

Talent Solutions - Cincinnati, OH

Architectural Designer

BSI Engineering LLC - Blue Ash, OH

Architectural Designer

KZF Design Inc - Cincinnati, OH

Senior Architectural Designer

Galloway & Company - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer Salaries

An Architectural Drafter/Graphic 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Architectural Drafter/Graphic 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/Graphic Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $63,275.
  • California: $63,035.
  • Massachusetts: $62,195.

Top Paying Cities for Architectural Drafter/Graphic 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: $72,081
  • San Francisco: $71,292
  • Oakland: $69,790

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 5.22% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Photoshop (Mentioned in 2.43% Job Postings): Photoshop is an image creation, graphic design and photo editing software developed by Adobe. It is used to demonstrate knowledge of image resolution, image size, and image file format for web, video, and print.
  • Sales Systems (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): Tracking and containing relevant information about the sale using tools and software to organize the sales process.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 5.22%
Photoshop 2.43%
Sales Systems 1.74%
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/Graphic Designer's salary.
  • Study Design: Can increase your salary by up to 32%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Study Design
 $75,436
32%
Consulting
 $66,292
16%
Leadership
 $65,721
15%
Innovation
 $64,006
12%
Illustration
 $62,863
10%
Project Management
 $62,292
9%
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Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$71,436$34.025%
Financial Services$68,578$33.020%
Internet$65,721$32.015%
Biotechnology$62,863$30.010%
Healthcare$62,863$30.010%

Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Architectural Drafter/Graphic 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 July 01, 2026
$52,886
Average $57,149/year
$64,792
$4,407
Average $4,762/month
$5,399
$1,017
Average $1,099/week
$1,246
$25
Average $27/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,792 $5,399 $1,246 $31
Average $57,149 $4,762 $1,099 $27
25th Percentile $52,886 $4,407 $1,017 $25

Salaries of jobs related to Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer

Salary Trends for Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer

Salaries for an Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,476 in 2023 to around $54,387 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$54,476
2024
$54,734
2025
$54,387
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $54,476
2024 $54,734
2025 $54,387
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer

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

Here are companies hiring for Architectural Drafter/Graphic Designer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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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