Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Dalton, GA is $79,410/year ($38.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.84), which stretches that salary to about $88,390 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,009/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K 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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What this looks like in Dalton
Dalton sits well above the national pay line for architectural and civil drafters, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $66K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,009/month, 20.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.84 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Dalton offers a genuinely strong financial position for architectural and civil drafterss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for architectural and civil drafters in metros near Dalton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $74K | $74K |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $69K | $76K |
| Savannah | $74K | $78K |
| Macon-Bibb County | $61K | $69K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Dalton, GA
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $127K 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
View Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98K | +48% | 370 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | +16% | 2,660 |
| California | $77K | +16% | 11,400 |
| Colorado | $76K | +15% | 3,570 |
| Connecticut | $76K | +15% | 810 |
| New York | $76K | +15% | 7,380 |
| Maryland | $75K | +14% | 910 |
| Georgia | $75K | +13% | 3,970 |
| Oregon | $74K | +12% | 1,490 |
| Delaware | $73K | +10% | 290 |
| Washington | $73K | +10% | 2,530 |
| Rhode Island | $72K | +8% | 240 |
| Minnesota | $71K | +7% | 1,930 |
| Tennessee | $69K | +5% | 1,310 |
| Nevada | $67K | +1% | 1,100 |
| Maine | $66K | +0% | 440 |
| Montana | $66K | -1% | 600 |
| West Virginia | $66K | -1% | 330 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | -1% | 400 |
| Pennsylvania | $65K | -2% | 5,370 |
| Arizona | $65K | -2% | 2,120 |
| North Dakota | $65K | -2% | 380 |
| South Carolina | $65K | -2% | 1,170 |
| Utah | $64K | -3% | 1,820 |
| Iowa | $64K | -3% | 980 |
| Wyoming | $64K | -4% | 200 |
| Hawaii | $64K | -4% | 610 |
| Virginia | $63K | -4% | 2,600 |
| Texas | $63K | -4% | 11,710 |
| New Jersey | $63K | -5% | 2,280 |
| Wisconsin | $63K | -5% | 2,200 |
| North Carolina | $63K | -5% | 2,680 |
| Florida | $63K | -5% | 7,530 |
| Arkansas | $62K | -6% | 980 |
| Kansas | $62K | -6% | 630 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -6% | 1,260 |
| Missouri | $62K | -6% | 2,270 |
| Idaho | $62K | -7% | 1,010 |
| Nebraska | $62K | -7% | 850 |
| Ohio | $61K | -7% | 2,860 |
| Louisiana | $61K | -8% | 1,040 |
| Vermont | $61K | -8% | 230 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -9% | 870 |
| Indiana | $60K | -9% | 2,240 |
| Mississippi | $60K | -9% | 330 |
| Michigan | $58K | -12% | 2,100 |
| Illinois | $58K | -12% | 1,310 |
| Alabama | $57K | -14% | 1,010 |
| South Dakota | $52K | -21% | 460 |
| New Mexico | $50K | -24% | 690 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
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
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Dalton?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 20.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,009/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and civil drafters in Dalton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,687/month. At HUD’s $1,009/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is architectural and civil drafter a high-paying job in Dalton?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $79K here vs. $66K nationally.
How does Dalton compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Dalton pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.84), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Dalton, GA?
The median is $79,410 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,790, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $126,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Dalton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,029/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,009/month, which eats 20.1% 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 $88,390 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.