Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $79,860/year ($38.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers.
So what does $80K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About architectural and civil drafters
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for architectural and civil drafters in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $62K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $64K | , |
| Boulder | $75K | , |
| Grand Junction | $58K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $54K 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
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and civil drafters in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,616/month.
Is architectural and civil drafter a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $80K here vs. $66K nationally.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +21%.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $79,860 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,260, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $114,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,088/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a architectural and civil drafters salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median architectural and civil drafters salary is worth about $79,860 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.