Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Indiana is $60,000/year ($28.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $65,352 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Indiana?
About architectural and civil drafters
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What this looks like in Indiana
Architectural and civil drafters pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $66K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,144/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by metro in Indiana
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $62K | +4% | 980 |
| Evansville | $60K | -0% | 100 |
| Terre Haute | $59K | -2% | 40 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $59K | -2% | 60 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $58K | -3% | 120 |
| Fort Wayne | $57K | -5% | 160 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $53K | -12% | 80 |
| Bloomington | $52K | -13% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track architectural and civil drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 28.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and civil drafters in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,606/month. At HUD’s $1,144/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 Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $66K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Indiana pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Indiana?
The median is $60,000 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,430, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $93,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,035/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 28.4% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $65,352 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.