Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Albuquerque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,330 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Albuquerque earn between $43,670 and $72,130.
- $44K10th
- $44K25th
- $47KMedian
- $72K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,350 | $4,696 | $27.09 |
| Median | $46,740 | $3,895 | $22.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,670 | $3,639 | $21.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,130 | $6,011 | $34.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Albuquerque vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Albuquerque earn about the same as the New Mexico average ($57,740) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -29% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $56,350 | $46,740 | $43,670 | $79,330 | 450 |
| New Mexico | $57,740 | $50,230 | $42,560 | $81,000 | 690 |
| 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 Albuquerque
On the average salary of $56,350, a single filer in Albuquerque takes home about $45,974 a year, or $3,831 a month and $1,768 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 Albuquerque a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albuquerque area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $56,350 buys what about $58,977 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Albuquerque ($48,060). A typical home costs $352,894, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other New Mexico cities
Albuquerque ranks 3rd of 3 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Santa Fe pays the most ($64,280).
- Santa Fe$64,280
- Las Cruces$60,180
- Albuquerque$56,350
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 Albuquerque: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Albuquerque?
$27.09 an hour on average, and $22.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Albuquerque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Albuquerque?
About $45,974 a year ($3,831 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,350.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Albuquerque 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 Albuquerque, NM (10740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.3%.
- 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 1.66, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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