Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH is $63,200/year ($30.39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.69), which stretches that salary to about $68,184 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,273/month, about 30.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $63K get you in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek’s Regional Price Parity (92.69). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek
Architectural and civil drafters pay in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $66K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,273/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.69 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for architectural and civil drafters in metros near Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $61K | $64K |
| Cincinnati | $70K | $73K |
| Cleveland | $62K | $66K |
| Toledo | $62K | $68K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $35K 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 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,273/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and civil drafters in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,923/month. At HUD’s $1,273/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $66K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.69), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH?
The median is $63,200 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,710, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $83,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,315/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,273/month, which eats 29.5% 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 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek has a Regional Price Parity of 92.69 (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 $68,184 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.