Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in New Mexico is $50,230/year ($24.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $53,976 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 33.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in New Mexico?
About architectural and civil drafters
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for architectural and civil drafters in New Mexico runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $66K. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by metro in New Mexico
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $65K | +30% | 70 |
| Las Cruces | $57K | +13% | 50 |
| Albuquerque | $47K | -7% | 450 |
Compare to other states
Track architectural and civil drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 32.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,554/month. At HUD’s $1,119/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 New Mexico?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $50K here vs. $66K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
New Mexico pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in New Mexico?
The median is $50,230 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,560, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $81,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,411/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 32.8% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $53,976 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.