Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,540 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Lafayette earn between $45,760 and $62,910.
- $40K10th
- $46K25th
- $50KMedian
- $63K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,570 | $4,714 | $27.20 |
| Median | $49,990 | $4,166 | $24.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,760 | $3,813 | $22.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,910 | $5,242 | $30.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Lafayette earn 17% less than the Louisiana average ($68,500) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $56,570 | $49,990 | $40,080 | $77,540 | 80 |
| Louisiana | $68,500 | $61,010 | $43,700 | $107,130 | 1,040 |
| United States | $70,740 | $66,150 | $46,260 | $99,710 | 103,700 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary after taxes in Lafayette
On the average salary of $56,570, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $46,323 a year, or $3,860 a month and $1,782 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $56,570 buys what about $64,867 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 5th of 5 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Lake Charles pays the most ($90,720).
- Lake Charles$90,720
- Baton Rouge$77,700
- Shreveport$59,830
- Houma$58,620
- Lafayette$56,570
Highest-paying cities for architectural and civil drafters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($93,870).
- San Jose, CA$93,870
- Lake Charles, LA$90,720
- San Francisco, CA$89,290
- Denver, CO$83,770
- Rochester, MN$83,220
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Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Lafayette: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Lafayette?
$27.20 an hour on average, and $24.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $46,323 a year ($3,860 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,570.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less than the U.S. average for this job ($70,740).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-3011; area Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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