Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Architectural and Civil Drafters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $61,080 a year ($29.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,350 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $66,150. Pay here is 3% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $62,750. There are 0.48 architectural and civil drafters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $64,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for architectural and civil drafters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| 25th percentile | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Median | $61,080 | $29.36 |
| 75th percentile | $75,720 | $36.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,350 | $44.88 |
| Average (mean) | $64,070 | $30.81 |
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 | $5,090 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,545 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,349.23 |
| Weekly | $1,174.62 |
| Hourly | $29.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | $66,660 | 120 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $65,840 | 730 |
| Greenville, NC | $64,900 | 40 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $63,940 | 740 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $63,230 | 140 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $62,030 | 410 |
| Asheville, NC | $59,560 | 140 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $57,180 | 70 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $56,120 | 60 |
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 |
See Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,320 | $30.92 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $63,870 | $30.71 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $62,020 | $29.82 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $60,960 | $29.31 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $57,680 | $27.73 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $60,340 | $29.01 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $81,190 | $39.04 |
| Mechanical Drafter | $63,680 | $30.62 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,890 | $49.47 |
| Electrical Engineer | $129,030 | $62.03 |
| Civil Engineer | $93,940 | $45.16 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,650 | $48.87 |
| Engineers, All Other | $127,710 | $61.40 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for architectural and civil drafters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $61,080 a year, or $29.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid architectural and civil drafters make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of architectural and civil drafters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $93,350 a year. The top 25% earn $75,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for architectural and civil drafters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,640 a year, and a quarter of architectural and civil drafters earn $49,670 or less.
How many architectural and civil drafters work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 160 architectural and civil drafters are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.