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Draftsman: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$66,150median pay per year, or $31.80 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $46,260lowest 10% earn less
  2. $55,65025th percentile
  3. $66,150median
  4. $80,87075th percentile
  5. $99,710top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Architectural and civil drafters, the official BLS category for a draftsman in building and civil work, had a median pay of $66,150 a year[1]. Employment is projected to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.2%[2]
Openings per year
9,100[5]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[6]

How much do draftsmen make?

The median pay for architectural and civil drafters was $66,150 a year, or $31.80 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) was $70,740 a year[7]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980[4].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,260 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $99,710[3]. A percentile is a boundary. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][9] $46,260 $22.24
25th[3][9] $55,650 $26.76
Median[1] $66,150 $31.80
75th[3][9] $80,870 $38.88
90th[3][9] $99,710 $47.94

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production and the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest state median at $97,880, based on 370 jobs[11]. Massachusetts followed at $76,990 and California at $76,520[11]. New Mexico had the lowest published state median at $50,230[11].

Texas had the most jobs at 11,710, then California at 11,400 and Florida at 7,530[12]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT had the highest median at $84,440, followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $82,820[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 6,710, with a median of $77,170[14].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[11]$97,880370
Massachusetts$76,9902,660
California$76,52011,400
Colorado$76,3703,570
Connecticut$76,290810
New York$76,2607,380
Maryland$75,180910
Georgia$74,9403,970
Oregon$74,0001,490
Delaware$73,040290
Washington$73,0002,530
Rhode Island$71,700240
Minnesota$70,6801,930
Tennessee$69,2201,310
Nevada$67,0001,100
Maine$66,200440
Montana$65,750600
West Virginia$65,640330
New Hampshire$65,300400
Pennsylvania$64,8005,370
Arizona$64,7502,120
North Dakota$64,720380
South Carolina$64,6801,170
Utah$64,2901,820
Iowa$64,220980
Wyoming$63,730200
Hawaii$63,510610
Virginia$63,4502,600
Texas$63,32011,710
New Jersey$62,9602,280
Wisconsin$62,9302,200
North Carolina$62,7502,680
Florida$62,6407,530
Arkansas$62,420980
Kansas$62,220630
Oklahoma$62,1401,260
Missouri$61,9402,270
Idaho$61,8401,010
Nebraska$61,550850
Ohio$61,4502,860
Louisiana$61,0101,040
Vermont$61,000230
Kentucky$60,120870
Indiana$60,0002,240
Mississippi$59,920330
Michigan$58,3302,100
Illinois$58,2401,310
Alabama$57,1001,010
South Dakota$52,470460
New Mexico$50,230690

How to become a draftsman

BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[6].

1) Prepare in high school if you can[15]. Classes in math, science, computer technology, design and computer graphics help, along with drafting where offered[15]. 2) Complete a program after high school[16]. These are often at a community college or technical school[16]. The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile covers drafters as a wider group than this page, so its training details describe that group[17]. 3) Plan for about 2 years of full-time study for an associate's degree[18]. Certificate and diploma programs vary in length and usually take less time[18]. 4) Learn the software[19]. Drafters need to use CAD and database tools such as building information modeling[19]. 5) Consider certification[20]. It is not mandatory, and it is offered for several specialties, including architectural and civil drafting[20].

O*NET sample job titles include architectural drafter, civil drafter, CAD designer and drafting technician[21].

What draftsmen do

O*NET describes the work as preparing detailed drawings of building features and civil projects such as highways and bridges[22]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

Drafters spend much of their time at computers in an office. Some visit job sites to work with architects and engineers[24]. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[25]. Architectural, engineering and related services employed 49% of drafters in 2025[26]. Only 0.4% of architectural and civil drafters were self-employed[27].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 104,100 to 109,500 jobs, a gain of 5,400[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[28].

About 9,100 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings also count jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.3% of workers leave the labor force and 4.7% move to a different occupation[29].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show median pay above the all-occupation median[1][4] and a typical entry path of about 2 years of study[6][18]. Growth is a little faster than average[2][28]. Pay varies by place, from a $50,230 state median in New Mexico to $97,880 in the District of Columbia[11]. The work involves computer drawing, attention to accuracy and deadlines[19][30][31]. Some related drafting occupations are projected to shrink, such as mechanical drafters at -6%[32].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a draftsman make an hour?
The median was $31.80 an hour in May 2025[1]. The middle half earned between $26.76 and $38.88[9].
How long does it take to become a draftsman?
An associate's degree generally takes about 2 years of full-time study[18]. Certificate and diploma programs usually take less time[18].
What degree do you need to be a draftsman?
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry education[6].
Is draftsman work in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][28]. About 9,100 openings a year are projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for draftsmen?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $97,880[11]. Massachusetts was next at $76,990[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters in the US was $66,150 per year and $31.80 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Architectural and Civil Drafters is projected to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 104,100 to 109,500 jobs (a change of +5,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Architectural and Civil Drafters: 10th percentile $46,260, 25th percentile $55,650, 75th percentile $80,870, 90th percentile $99,710. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 9,100 openings for Architectural and Civil Drafters are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Architectural and Civil Drafters: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters was $70,740 per year and $34.01 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Architectural and Civil Drafters: 10th percentile $22.24, 25th percentile $26.76, 75th percentile $38.88, 90th percentile $47.94. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Architectural and Civil Drafters jobs: Texas 11,710; California 11,400; Florida 7,530; New York 7,380; Pennsylvania 5,370. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters (areas with at least 100 jobs): Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $84,440; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $82,820; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $81,130; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $80,040; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,860; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $79,310; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $78,340; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $77,190. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Architectural and Civil Drafters jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 6,710 (median $77,170); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 4,130 (median $63,120); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,890 (median $76,630); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 3,360 (median $66,890); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,170 (median $74,180); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 2,150 (median $79,310). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Drafters" covers Architectural and Civil Drafters together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 17-3011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Architectural Designer, Architectural Drafter, Architectural Draftsman, CAD Designer (Computer-Aided Design Designer), CAD Tech (Computer-Aided Design Technician), CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Drafter), Civil Drafter, Drafting Technician (Drafting Tech). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET description of Architectural and Civil Drafters. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Architectural and Civil Drafters. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of drafters in 2025: Architectural, engineering, and related services 49%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Employment Projections: 0.4% of Architectural and Civil Drafters were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  28. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Architectural and Civil Drafters: 3.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.