Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Texas
Architectural and Civil Drafters in Texas earn a median of $63,320 a year ($30.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,710 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,350 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $66,150. Texas ranks 29th of 50 states for architectural and civil drafters pay. There are 0.83 architectural and civil drafters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $68,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for architectural and civil drafters in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| 25th percentile | $50,810 | $24.43 |
| Median | $63,320 | $30.44 |
| 75th percentile | $81,050 | $38.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,350 | $48.25 |
| Average (mean) | $68,600 | $32.98 |
Half of architectural and civil drafters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,276.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,638.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,435.38 |
| Weekly | $1,217.69 |
| Hourly | $30.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $74,230 | 1,300 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $70,730 | 150 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $66,890 | 3,360 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $64,700 | 50 |
| Longview, TX | $64,470 | 60 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $63,120 | 4,130 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $61,960 | 130 |
| Midland, TX | $61,610 | 110 |
| Amarillo, TX | $58,900 | 60 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $58,750 | 760 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $58,630 | 40 |
| Abilene, TX | $58,290 | 40 |
| Tyler, TX | $58,230 | 70 |
| Waco, TX | $57,650 | 60 |
| El Paso, TX | $54,840 | 190 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $54,620 | 100 |
| Lubbock, TX | $52,780 | 90 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $48,710 | 60 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $47,790 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for architectural and civil drafters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $97,880 |
| Massachusetts | $76,990 |
| California | $76,520 |
| Colorado | $76,370 |
| Connecticut | $76,290 |
| New York | $76,260 |
| Maryland | $75,180 |
| Georgia | $74,940 |
| Oregon | $74,000 |
| Delaware | $73,040 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,050 | $35.60 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $47,680 | $22.93 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $73,860 | $35.51 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $62,020 | $29.82 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $74,100 | $35.62 |
| Mechanical Drafter | $79,380 | $38.16 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $59,390 | $28.55 |
| Drafters, All Other | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $76,610 | $36.83 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $80,620 | $38.76 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $54,460 | $26.18 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $57,150 | $27.48 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Civil Engineer | $96,860 | $46.57 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a architectural and civil drafters make in Texas?
The median salary for architectural and civil drafters in Texas is $63,320 a year, or $30.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid architectural and civil drafters make in Texas?
The top 10% of architectural and civil drafters in Texas earn at least $100,350 a year. The top 25% earn $81,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for architectural and civil drafters in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,950 a year, and a quarter of architectural and civil drafters earn $50,810 or less.
How many architectural and civil drafters work in Texas?
About 11,710 architectural and civil drafters are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.