Careers / Architectural and Civil Drafters
Architectural and Civil Drafters — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$66,150
United States, 2025
Employment
103,700
United States, 2025
Typical education
Not recorded
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.
- O*NET code
- 17-3011.00
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.
- Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
- Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
- Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.
- Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
- Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to compile measurements as necessary.
- Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
- Represent architect or engineer on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design specifications and advising on design corrections, under supervision.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$46,260
25th percentile
$55,650
75th percentile
$80,870
90th percentile
$99,710
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Active Listening3.5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Monitoring3.3
- Writing3.3
- Speaking3.3
- Coordination3.3
- Time Management3.1
- Mathematics3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Active Learning3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 15 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
15
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Active Listening | 3.5 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Writing | 3.3 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Architectural and Civil DraftersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | $97,880 | 370 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $84,440 | 110 | 2025 |
| Rochester, MN | $83,780 | 60 | 2025 |
| Waterbury, CT | $83,630 | 40 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $82,820 | 610 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $81,130 | 1,750 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $80,040 | 150 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $79,860 | 2,120 | 2025 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $79,540 | 50 | 2025 |
| Dalton, GA | $79,410 | 40 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $79,310 | 2,150 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $78,340 | 1,130 | 2025 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $78,010 | 40 | 2025 |
| Chico, CA | $77,850 | 70 | 2025 |
| Manhattan, KS | $77,810 | 40 | 2025 |
| Helena, MT | $77,320 | 90 | 2025 |
| Hartford, CT | $77,190 | 210 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $77,170 | 6,710 | 2025 |
| MA | $76,990 | 2,660 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $76,950 | 850 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Architectural and Civil Drafters to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.