Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Louisiana is $61,010/year ($29.33/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $69,901 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 29.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Louisiana?
About architectural and civil drafters
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Architectural and civil drafters pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $66K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by metro in Louisiana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $80K | +30% | 50 |
| Baton Rouge | $70K | +15% | 340 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $59K | -4% | 50 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $57K | -7% | 40 |
| Lafayette | $50K | -18% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track architectural and civil drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 29.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and civil drafters in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,622/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $66K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Louisiana pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Louisiana?
The median is $61,010 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,700, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $107,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,087/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 29.1% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $69,901 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.