Drafter Architectural Salary in the United States

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  3. > Drafter Architectural
  4. > United States

Last Updated: July 14, 2026

$80,611 USD

per year
Hourly Rate $38.76
Bonus $1,725

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Entry Level $58K
Average $81K
Senior Level $97K

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The average pay for a Drafter Architectural is $80,611, which is $38.76 an hour in the United States. The average salary range for a Drafter Architectural is between $57,717 and $97,136. On average, a Bachelor's is the highest level of education for a Drafter Architectural.

This compensation analysis comes from aggregated salary survey data for the United States. ERI's compensation information is based on employer-reported data collected from ERI's salary surveys, customer HRIS data, data from Proxies/10Ks and Forms 990, proprietary databases, and purchased survey data. Cost-of-labor data in the Assessor Series are based on actual housing sales data from commercially available sources, plus rental rates, gasoline prices, consumables, medical care premium costs, property taxes, effective income tax rates, etc. For more information, see ERI's methodology.

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Salary Potential for Drafter Architectural

Explore the estimated salary growth for Drafter Architectural in the United States for up to 5 years. The estimated salary of Drafter Architectural in 1 year will be $82,723, and in 5 years, will be $91,740.

Number of Years

2 Years

Estimated Salary

$84,891 USD

Percentage Growth

0%

Growth Trajectory

The estimated salary growth for Drafter Architectural in [# of years] is [salary], which is [average growth %] average growth. This information is based on ERI's compensation database.

What Does a Drafter Architectural Do?

Drafts architectural and structural features of buildings and other structures. Applies well-developed drafting and mechanical drawing skills; knowledge of drafting standards, mathematics, science, and engineering technology. Prepares detailed drawings of architectural designs and plans for buildings, parking, and landscaping, according to specifications, sketches, and rough drafts provided by architects, engineers, and designers. Fills in technical details, using drawings, rough sketches, specifications, codes, and calculations previously made by engineers, architects, or scientists. Understands directions; draws rough and detailed sketches, drawings, and plans to scale; and analyzes structural, electrical, and mechanical components of buildings. Requires a solid background in computer-aided drafting and design techniques.

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Education, Skills, and Certifications for Drafter Architecturals

Gain access to salary differentials for education and skills in ERI's Salary Assessor

Education

Below is the average education level for a Drafter Architectural. About 54% have a Bachelor's degree, 29% have a Associate degree, and 17% have a High School Diploma.

  • Bachelor's Degree 54%
  • Associate Degree 29%
  • High School Diploma 17%
  • Doctorate Degree 0%
  • Master's Degree 0%
  • Less Than HS 0%

Top Skills

Below are top skills for a Drafter Architectural. 100% of Drafter Architecturals have a skill in Drafts architectural features. The top 3 most popular skills for Drafter Architecturals are Drafts architectural features.

  • Drafts architectural features 100%

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Compare Drafter Architectural Salaries by Location

See how Drafter Architectural salaries vary by region and find the best location for your career.

Average Salaries for Drafter Architectural

The average salary of drafter architectural in the United States is $80,611. The average salary of drafter architectural in California is $91,305. The average salary of drafter architectural in Canada is $83,892. Explore the average salaries for drafter architectural in other locations below.

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Cost of Living in the United States

The cost of living in the United States is 0% equal to than the national average.

Whether you're planning to move or just want to see the cost of living in different locations, our cost-of-living calculator is the place to start. Compare salaries for other locations by city, U.S. ZIP code, state, or country.

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Why Your Salary May Look Different

This information is based on a specific job title and location, but real-world compensation can vary based on factors like years of experience, company size, shift differentials, and more. Because of these variables, your actual pay may fall above or below the average ranges shown. Use ERI's salary data and compensation management platform to identify market trends and accurately adjust pay so that you can price jobs competitively.

Based on the average salary in the United States, if your shift differential is 10%, then your pay will increase by $3.88/hour

*Some jobs may not be adjusted using shift differentials. Please contact [email protected] for additional information.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Drafter Architectural salaries and career insights

How much does a Drafter Architectural make in the United States?

ERI's data indicated that, on average, a Drafter Architectural is $80,611 per year or $38.76 per hour in the United States, which is 1% lower than the national average. Top earners have reported making up to $97,136. However, the typical pay range in the United States, is between $57,717 and $97,136 annually.

What is the salary potential for Drafter Architectural in 5 years?

Drafter Architectural is projected to see 13.8% salary growth in 5 years.

What are some factors that impact Drafter Architectural salaries?

Several factors can impact the salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, and more. Understanding how these factors affect the role can provide opportunities to earn more. Use our salary calculator to find out how much you should be paid based on what someone in your area, with similar experience, earns.

How can I accurately price jobs for my organization?

There are several factors that can impact the salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, education, certificates, shift differentials, and more. Understanding how these factors affect the role can help you spot pay gaps and retain top talent. ERI's Assessor Platform brings these factors together in one platform, making it easy to benchmark roles, analyze insights, and set pay with confidence.

What is ERI Economic Research Institute?

ERI Economic Research Institute was founded over 35 years ago to provide trusted compensation data for private and public organizations. ERI has established itself as a gold standard for global salary benchmarking and geographic differentials and has evolved to offer a complete compensation management software solution.

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With decades of experience in compensation, ERI offers an extensive and reliable salary survey database powered by the Assessor Platform, a comprehensive compensation management solution that optimizes complex processes for accuracy and efficiency.

HR and compensation professionals in organizations ranging from small companies to the Fortune 500 rely on ERI's Assessor Platform to:

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ERI's team of PhD-level data scientists and seasoned compensation professionals review and validate our salary data approximately every six weeks, ensuring the accuracy of the data that we publish. Learn more about our methodology.

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About Our Data

This page is an excerpt of the much more complete compensation information available in ERI's Assessor Series.

For over 35 years, ERI has compiled the most robust and accurate salary, cost-of-living, and executive compensation survey database available. Data are analyzed using AI and traditional statistics, depending on which approach is best for a particular application. ERI collects salary survey data from five different sources, which you can learn about here.

Verified Sources

Data sourced from internal salary surveys, purchased surveys, public sources, HRIS data, and proprietary databases.

Real-Time Data

Our salary database is updated and verified approximately every six weeks.

Quality Assurance

Along with our data scientists, we have included AI in our rigorous process to analyze and provide the highest quality data.

10,500+

Locations

35,900+

Job Titles

4,400+

Skills

5,500+

Certifications

1,100+

Industries

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