Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Bismarck
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,680 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Bismarck earn between $60,300 and $91,440.
- $49K10th
- $60K25th
- $68KMedian
- $91K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,430 | $5,952 | $34.34 |
| Median | $67,780 | $5,648 | $32.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,300 | $5,025 | $28.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,440 | $7,620 | $43.96 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Bismarck vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Bismarck earn 6% more than the North Dakota average ($67,570) and about the same as the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $71,430 | $67,780 | $48,800 | $93,680 | 60 |
| North Dakota | $67,570 | $64,720 | $47,430 | $92,820 | 380 |
| 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 Bismarck
On the average salary of $71,430, a single filer in Bismarck takes home about $58,969 a year, or $4,914 a month and $2,268 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Bismarck a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bismarck area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.0), so the average $71,430 buys what about $78,474 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Bismarck ($52,560). A typical home costs $356,992, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other North Dakota cities
Bismarck ranks 1st of 3 North Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Bismarck$71,430
- Grand Forks$68,290
- Fargo$68,170
All Architectural and Civil Drafters salaries in North Dakota
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 Bismarck: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Bismarck?
$34.34 an hour on average, and $32.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Bismarck?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Bismarck?
About $58,969 a year ($4,914 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,430.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Bismarck than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Bismarck, ND (13900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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