Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,350 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Durham earn between $49,670 and $75,720.
- $43K10th
- $50K25th
- $61KMedian
- $76K75th
- $93K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,070 | $5,339 | $30.80 |
| Median | $61,080 | $5,090 | $29.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,670 | $4,139 | $23.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,720 | $6,310 | $36.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Durham earn 4% less than the North Carolina average ($66,430) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $64,070 | $61,080 | $42,640 | $93,350 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $66,430 | $62,750 | $42,790 | $95,540 | 2,680 |
| United States | $70,740 | $66,150 | $46,260 | $99,710 | 103,700 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $64,070, a single filer in Durham takes home about $51,613 a year, or $4,301 a month and $1,985 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $64,070 buys what about $65,664 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 6th of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($69,980).
- Raleigh$69,980
- Wilmington$69,190
- Greenville$68,340
- Charlotte$67,460
- Greensboro$64,860
- Durham$64,070
- Asheville$63,890
- Winston-Salem$60,630
- Fayetteville$54,070
All Architectural and Civil Drafters salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for architectural and civil drafters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($93,870).
- San Jose, CA$93,870
- Lake Charles, LA$90,720
- San Francisco, CA$89,290
- Denver, CO$83,770
- Rochester, MN$83,220
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Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Durham: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Durham?
$30.81 an hour on average, and $29.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Durham?
About $51,613 a year ($4,301 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,070.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($70,740).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-3011; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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