Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Manhattan, KS is $77,810/year ($37.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers.
So what does $78K get you in Manhattan?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Manhattan’s Regional Price Parity (90.2). 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 Manhattan
Manhattan sits well above the national pay line for architectural and civil drafters, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $66K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,068/month, 21.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.2 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Manhattan 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 Manhattan, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $56K | , |
| Lawrence | $60K | , |
| Topeka | $68K | , |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $80K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Manhattan, KS
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $40K 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 Manhattan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Manhattan?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 21.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,068/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and civil drafters in Manhattan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,953/month. At HUD’s $1,068/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Manhattan?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $78K here vs. $66K nationally.
How does Manhattan compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Manhattan pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Manhattan, KS?
The median is $77,810 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,220, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $89,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Manhattan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,946/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,068/month, which eats 21.6% 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 Manhattan?
Manhattan 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 $86,264 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.