Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Massachusetts is $76,990/year ($37.02/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $76,921 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 46.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Massachusetts?
About architectural and civil drafters
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for architectural and civil drafters, local pay runs about 16% 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 $2,347/month, which is 48% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) 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, Massachusetts
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $79K | +3% | 2,150 |
| Pittsfield | $73K | -5% | 40 |
| Worcester | $72K | -6% | 160 |
| Springfield | $70K | -9% | 70 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $68K | -12% | 40 |
| Barnstable Town | $67K | -13% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track architectural and civil drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 48% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,411/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 69% 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 Massachusetts?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $77K here vs. $66K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Massachusetts pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Massachusetts?
The median is $76,990 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,850, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $102,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,892/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 48% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median architectural and civil drafters salary is worth about $76,921 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.