Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

17-3011 Architectural and Civil Drafters

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.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
85,740 1.5 % $24.11 $50,160 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $15.16 $18.47 $22.72 $28.60 $35.52
Annual Wage (2) $31,520 $38,430 $47,250 $59,480 $73,880

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 66,290 5.14 $23.98 $49,870
Local Government (OES Designation) 2,710 0.05 $27.82 $57,860
Nonresidential Building Construction 1,720 0.26 $24.39 $50,720
Residential Building Construction 1,520 0.26 $23.09 $48,020
Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing 1,460 0.45 $22.50 $46,810

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 66,290 5.14 $23.98 $49,870
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing 410 0.66 $20.37 $42,370
Specialized Design Services 640 0.56 $25.52 $53,080
Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing 1,460 0.45 $22.50 $46,810
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 270 0.28 $24.07 $50,070

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 90 0.02 $35.44 $73,710
Scientific Research and Development Services 120 0.02 $31.59 $65,710
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 30 (7) $30.88 $64,220
Activities Related to Real Estate 190 0.03 $30.38 $63,190
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 100 0.03 $29.85 $62,090

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 12,370 0.88 1.32 $26.76 $55,660
Texas 8,130 0.79 1.18 $23.22 $48,290
Florida 6,120 0.86 1.28 $22.59 $46,980
New York 5,790 0.69 1.03 $25.37 $52,780
Pennsylvania 4,430 0.80 1.19 $22.47 $46,740




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Montana 540 1.27 1.90 $21.20 $44,090
Utah 1,280 1.10 1.65 $20.77 $43,210
Wyoming 250 0.92 1.37 $22.13 $46,030
California 12,370 0.88 1.32 $26.76 $55,660
Hawaii 500 0.86 1.29 $22.56 $46,930




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 230 0.75 1.12 $33.89 $70,500
Massachusetts 2,190 0.69 1.04 $27.01 $56,180
District of Columbia 450 0.70 1.04 $26.86 $55,870
California 12,370 0.88 1.32 $26.76 $55,660
Connecticut 690 0.43 0.64 $26.62 $55,360





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 3,880 0.77 1.15 $27.07 $56,300
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 2,900 0.76 1.14 $25.98 $54,030
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 2,390 0.94 1.40 $25.41 $52,840
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 1,990 0.56 0.83 $23.89 $49,690
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division 1,890 1.36 2.04 $27.53 $57,250
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 1,700 0.83 1.24 $25.06 $52,130
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 1,620 0.96 1.44 $28.21 $58,680
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 1,520 0.84 1.25 $23.81 $49,530
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 1,350 0.58 0.87 $28.07 $58,390
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,220 0.71 1.07 $26.45 $55,010




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Ames, IA 100 2.48 3.71 $24.37 $50,690
Billings, MT 140 1.80 2.69 $22.26 $46,310
Cheyenne, WY 80 1.78 2.66 $22.20 $46,180
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA 280 1.66 2.48 $23.22 $48,300
Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach, FL 110 1.55 2.32 $23.56 $49,010
Casper, WY 60 1.52 2.28 $25.63 $53,320
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL 210 1.42 2.12 $22.15 $46,070
Idaho Falls, ID 70 1.42 2.13 $22.57 $46,940
Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA 140 1.41 2.10 $26.45 $55,020
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division 1,890 1.36 2.04 $27.53 $57,250