Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary in Dalton, GA
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Dalton, GA is $73,620/year ($35.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.84), which stretches that salary to about $81,946 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,009/month, or 20.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $74K get you in Dalton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Dalton’s Regional Price Parity (89.84). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About architectural and civil drafters
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Dalton, GA
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $82K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $88K | +38% | 540 |
| Alaska | $86K | +33% | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $76K | +18% | 2,730 |
| New York | $75K | +16% | 8,010 |
| California | $74K | +16% | 12,950 |
| Louisiana | $73K | +13% | 1,180 |
| Maryland | $72K | +12% | 1,030 |
| Nevada | $71K | +11% | 1,310 |
| Maine | $71K | +10% | 690 |
| North Dakota | $68K | +6% | 320 |
| Montana | $68K | +6% | 540 |
| Oregon | $67K | +5% | 1,440 |
| Minnesota | $67K | +4% | 2,440 |
| Connecticut | $67K | +4% | 740 |
| Rhode Island | $67K | +4% | 240 |
| Georgia | $65K | +1% | 3,480 |
| Washington | $65K | +1% | 1,910 |
| Tennessee | $65K | +1% | 1,410 |
| Hawaii | $64K | -0% | 640 |
| Virginia | $64K | -0% | 2,320 |
| West Virginia | $64K | -1% | 330 |
| Iowa | $64K | -1% | 900 |
| North Carolina | $64K | -1% | 3,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $63K | -1% | 5,230 |
| Oklahoma | $63K | -2% | 1,530 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -2% | 1,610 |
| Wyoming | $62K | -3% | 190 |
| Utah | $62K | -3% | 1,600 |
| Missouri | $62K | -3% | 2,420 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | -3% | 2,060 |
| Delaware | $62K | -3% | 390 |
| New Hampshire | $62K | -3% | 400 |
| Texas | $62K | -4% | 13,480 |
| Arizona | $61K | -4% | 2,600 |
| Florida | $61K | -5% | 8,140 |
| Kansas | $61K | -5% | 660 |
| Indiana | $61K | -5% | 1,700 |
| Ohio | $61K | -6% | 3,260 |
| Vermont | $60K | -6% | 280 |
| Arkansas | $60K | -6% | 820 |
| Nebraska | $60K | -6% | 770 |
| New Mexico | $59K | -8% | 340 |
| Idaho | $59K | -9% | 1,110 |
| Michigan | $58K | -10% | 2,120 |
| Mississippi | $58K | -10% | 380 |
| New Jersey | $57K | -11% | 1,990 |
| Illinois | $57K | -12% | 1,760 |
| Alabama | $56K | -13% | 1,350 |
| Kentucky | $54K | -16% | 1,220 |
| South Dakota | $53K | -17% | 440 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track architectural and civil drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Dalton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Dalton, GA?
The median is $73,620 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,530, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $119,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Dalton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,716/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,009/month, which eats 21.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a architectural and civil drafters salary go in Dalton?
Dalton has a Regional Price Parity of 89.84 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median architectural and civil drafters salary is worth about $81,946 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do architectural and civil drafters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.