SOC 17-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Architectural and Civil Drafters — Michigan
Michigan · 8 metro areas compared
In Michigan the median wage is $58,330.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Michigan the median wage is $58,330. That is 11.8% lower than the national median of $66,150. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $48,410 and $73,800. The lowest tenth earn under $40,390, while the highest tenth earn more than $90,750.
Employment stands at 2,100, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Michigan ranks 46th by median wage. Detroit leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,330. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 401st of 774 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,390 | −38.9% |
| 25th | $48,410 | −26.8% |
| Median (50th) | $58,330 | −11.8% |
| 75th | $73,800 | +11.6% |
| 90th | $90,750 | +37.2% |
| Mean | $62,210 | −6.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $62,330 | 710 | |
| 2 | Kalamazoo | $62,300 | 80 | |
| 3 | Flint | $61,440 | 50 | |
| 4 | Grand Rapids | $61,090 | 300 | |
| 5 | Lansing | $60,310 | 90 | |
| 6 | Ann Arbor | $59,280 | 100 | |
| 7 | Traverse City | $52,050 | 50 | |
| 8 | Muskegon | $48,880 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $58,330 goes as far as $60,634 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$58,330as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$60,634US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $58,330 a year, 11.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,390 to $90,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,100 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 46th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Detroit, at $62,330.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters in Michigan?
The median annual wage is $58,330, or $28.04 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $66,150, so pay in Michigan is 11.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Michigan earns more than $90,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,390 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Detroit, at $62,330 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,100 jobs in this occupation in Michigan. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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