Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Minnesota is $70,680/year ($33.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $76,328 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 30% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in Minnesota?
About architectural and civil drafters
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Architectural and civil drafters pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $66K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, Minnesota
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by metro in Minnesota
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $84K | +19% | 60 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $72K | +2% | 1,390 |
| St. Cloud | $64K | -9% | 70 |
| Duluth | $61K | -13% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track architectural and civil drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 30.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/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 Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,120/month. At HUD’s $1,384/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 Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $66K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Minnesota pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Minnesota?
The median is $70,680 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,000, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $98,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,561/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 30.3% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $76,328 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.