Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Maryland is $75,180/year ($36.14/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $76,124 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 36.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in Maryland?
About architectural and civil drafters
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland sits well above the national pay line for architectural and civil drafters, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $66K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,795/month, which is 37.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $55K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by metro in Maryland
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | $78K | +4% | 40 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $76K | +1% | 450 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $61K | -18% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track architectural and civil drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 37.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and civil drafters in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,920/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Maryland?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $75K here vs. $66K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Maryland pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Maryland?
The median is $75,180 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,670, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $103,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,823/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 37.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a architectural and civil drafters salary go in Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $76,124 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.