Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Virginia Beach
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,750 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Virginia Beach earn between $49,350 and $78,060.
- $44K10th
- $49K25th
- $62KMedian
- $78K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,920 | $5,410 | $31.21 |
| Median | $62,030 | $5,169 | $29.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,350 | $4,112 | $23.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,060 | $6,505 | $37.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Virginia Beach vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Virginia Beach earn 4% less than the Virginia average ($67,510) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $64,920 | $62,030 | $44,290 | $93,750 | 410 |
| Virginia | $67,510 | $63,450 | $47,170 | $93,970 | 2,600 |
| 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 Virginia Beach
On the average salary of $64,920, a single filer in Virginia Beach takes home about $51,424 a year, or $4,285 a month and $1,978 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $52,262 | $4,355 |
| Working in VA | $51,424 | $4,285 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Virginia Beach a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Virginia Beach area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $64,920 buys what about $66,285 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Virginia Beach ($49,430). A typical home costs $373,678, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other Virginia cities
Virginia Beach ranks 3rd of 7 Virginia metro areas for this job; Richmond pays the most ($66,890).
- Richmond$66,890
- Blacksburg$64,920
- Virginia Beach$64,920
- Charlottesville$63,040
- Roanoke$61,220
- Lynchburg$59,860
- Winchester$59,260
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 Virginia Beach: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Virginia Beach?
$31.21 an hour on average, and $29.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Virginia Beach?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Virginia Beach?
About $51,424 a year ($4,285 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,920.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Virginia Beach than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (47260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.7%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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