Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary
The median pay for a architectural and civil drafters in Washington is $73,000/year ($35.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $71,562 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 36.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Washington?
About architectural and civil drafters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Washington
Architectural and civil drafters pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $66K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 36.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level architectural and civil drafters (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary by metro in Washington
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $76K | +4% | 1,520 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $76K | +4% | 50 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $75K | +3% | 40 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $73K | -1% | 90 |
| Bellingham | $63K | -14% | 60 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $62K | -15% | 240 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $62K | -15% | 60 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $61K | -16% | 80 |
| Yakima | $61K | -17% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track architectural and civil drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and civil drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 36.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and civil drafters typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,359/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $66K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for architectural and civil drafters?
Washington pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Washington?
The median is $73,000 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,990, and experienced architectural and civil drafters can clear $102,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,978/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 36.8% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $71,562 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.