Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Architectural and Civil Drafters vs. Industrial Engineers: Who Earns More?

Industrial Engineerss out-earn Architectural and Civil Drafterss by $36K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Architectural and Civil Drafterss land at $66,150 and Industrial Engineerss at $102,440. The education gap is real: architectural and civil drafter programs typically require bachelor's degree, while industrial engineer programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Architectural and Civil Drafterss is District of Columbia ($97,880); for Industrial Engineerss it's Alaska ($156,510).

Architectural and Civil Drafters
Industrial Engineers
Median salary
$66,150
$102,440
Hourly rate
$31.8/hr
$49.25/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$46,260
$74,370
Senior level (90th %)
$99,710
$159,860
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
103,700
365,740
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Engineering
Engineering
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
Alaska

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Architectural and Civil Drafters median pay.

State
Architectural and Civil Drafters
Industrial Engineers
Massachusetts
$76,990
$109,420
California
$76,520
$124,600
Colorado
$76,370
$109,750
Maryland
$75,180
$119,930
Oregon
$74,000
$128,290
Delaware
$73,040
$120,190
Washington
$73,000
$129,050
Rhode Island
$71,700
$109,350
West Virginia
$65,640
$108,360
Arizona
$64,750
$108,280
Wyoming
$63,730
$122,070
Hawaii
$63,510
$123,800
Texas
$63,320
$104,560
Louisiana
$61,010
$122,920
New Mexico
$50,230
$128,090

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Architectural and Civil Drafterss or Industrial Engineerss?

Industrial Engineerss earn more nationally. The median is $66,150 for Architectural and Civil Drafterss versus $102,440 for Industrial Engineerss, a difference of $36K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Architectural and Civil Drafters or Industrial Engineers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Architectural and Civil Drafters or Industrial Engineers?

Architectural and Civil Drafters typically requires bachelor's degree. Industrial Engineers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Architectural and Civil Drafterss get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Architectural and Civil Drafterss at $97,880/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Architectural and Civil Drafters vs. Industrial Engineers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Architectural and Civil Drafterss earn $76,990 vs. $109,420 for Industrial Engineerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Architectural and Civil Drafters salary breakdownView →Full Industrial Engineers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Architectural and Civil Drafterss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Industrial Engineerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a architectural and civil draftersGuide →How to become a industrial engineersGuide →