Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Oklahoma is $62,140/year ($29.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.46), which stretches that salary to about $71,050 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,081/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oklahoma. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Oklahoma?
About architectural and civil drafters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Oklahoma
Architectural and civil drafters pay in Oklahoma tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $66K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,081/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Oklahoma
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by metro in Oklahoma
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa | $65K | +4% | 440 |
| Oklahoma City | $64K | +3% | 580 |
Compare to other states
Track architectural and civil drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oklahoma numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oklahoma?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 26.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,081/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and civil drafters in Oklahoma?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,590/month. At HUD’s $1,081/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Oklahoma?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $66K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Oklahoma compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Oklahoma pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Oklahoma?
The median is $62,140 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,170, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $91,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Oklahoma?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,126/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,081/month, which eats 26.2% 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 Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has a Regional Price Parity of 87.46 (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 $71,050 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.