Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in South Dakota is $52,470/year ($25.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $58,371 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in South Dakota?
About architectural and civil drafters
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for architectural and civil drafters in South Dakota runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $66K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, South Dakota
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $59K | +12% | 210 |
| Rapid City | $57K | +9% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track architectural and civil drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 27.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and civil drafters in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,464/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 South Dakota?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $52K here vs. $66K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
South Dakota pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in South Dakota?
The median is $52,470 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,070, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $72,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,683/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 27.6% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $58,371 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.