Architectural and Civil Drafters Salary in Virginia Beach, VA-NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

Median annual salary $61,480 -4.4% vs national
Median hourly $29.56
10th percentile $41,120
90th percentile $90,590
Employed locally 410
National median $64,280

Compare Architectural and Civil Drafters salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Virginia Beach, VA-NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Architectural and Civil Drafters
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,120
    25th
    $48,910
    50th (median)
    $61,480
    75th
    $77,780
    90th
    $90,590

    Virginia Beach economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,533 2023 • Census ACS
    Architectural and Civil Drafters salary vs area income 76% Median Architectural and Civil Drafters salary is 24% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Architectural and Civil Drafters

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Anchorage, AK $103,710
    District of Columbia $88,430
    Alaska $85,700
    Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area $81,370
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $80,690
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,770

    Nearby metros — Architectural and Civil Drafters salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $80,690
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $77,050
    Vallejo, CA $75,580
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $71,480
    Nevada $71,460
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $68,470

    Related occupations in Virginia Beach, VA-NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Mechanical Engineers $97,470
    Civil Engineers $94,060
    Marine Engineers and Naval Architects $100,630
    Electrical Engineers $106,070
    Engineers, All Other $129,310
    Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians $94,830

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Architectural and Civil Drafters make per hour in Virginia Beach?

    The median hourly wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters in Virginia Beach, VA-NC is $29.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.07 or more per hour.

    Is Virginia Beach above or below average for Architectural and Civil Drafters salaries?

    The median Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Virginia Beach, VA-NC is 4.4% below the national median of $64,280. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Architectural and Civil Drafters in Virginia Beach?

    Entry-level Architectural and Civil Drafters (10th percentile) earn around $41,120 per year in Virginia Beach, VA-NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $48,910.