SOC 17-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Architectural and Civil Drafters — Texas
Texas · 10 metro areas compared
At $63,320, median pay for Architectural and Civil Drafters in Texas tracks the national median of $66,150 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $63,320, median pay for Architectural and Civil Drafters in Texas tracks the national median of $66,150 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $50,810 and $81,050. The lowest tenth earn under $44,950, while the highest tenth earn more than $100,350.
Employment stands at 11,710, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Texas ranks 29th by median wage. Austin leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $74,230. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 312th of 794 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,950 | −32.0% |
| 25th | $50,810 | −23.2% |
| Median (50th) | $63,320 | −4.3% |
| 75th | $81,050 | +22.5% |
| 90th | $100,350 | +51.7% |
| Mean | $68,600 | +3.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin | $74,230 | 1,300 | |
| 2 | Beaumont | $70,730 | 150 | |
| 3 | Dallas | $66,890 | 3,360 | |
| 4 | Killeen | $64,700 | 50 | |
| 5 | Longview | $64,470 | 60 | |
| 6 | Houston | $63,120 | 4,130 | |
| 7 | Corpus Christi | $61,960 | 130 | |
| 8 | Midland | $61,610 | 110 | |
| 9 | Amarillo | $58,900 | 60 | |
| 10 | San Antonio | $58,750 | 760 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Texas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $63,320 goes as far as $65,211 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$63,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,211US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $63,320 a year, 4.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,950 to $100,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 11,710 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 29th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Austin, at $74,230.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters in Texas?
The median annual wage is $63,320, or $30.44 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 Texas is 4.3% 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 Texas earns more than $100,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,950 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 Austin, at $74,230 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 11,710 jobs in this occupation in Texas. 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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