Entry-level Architectural and Civil Drafter salary in New York, NY
Based on 21 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Brooklyn, Jersey City, Middlesex, Monsey, Long Island City.
Also listed as: Architectural Drafter
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $51,000 |
| 25th | $53,040 |
| 50th (median) | $60,000 |
| 75th | $65,000 |
| 90th | $72,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $50,000 | $45,000 | $51,300 | 33 |
| FY2021 | $53,500 | $50,000 | $55,006 | 34 |
| FY2022 | $52,000 | $49,982 | $55,000 | 22 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2025 | $60,000 | $59,093 | $65,000 | 13 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 8 |
Cost of living
New York's median entry-level Architectural and Civil Drafter salary of $60,000 is worth about $53,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; New York = 112.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Architectural and Civil Drafters in the New York, NY area earned a median of $77,170 in May 2025 (6,710 employed). The H-1B median here is $60,000, 22% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| O'Neil Langan Architects, P.C. | too few | 4 |
| Ismael Leyva Architects, P.c. | too few | 3 |
| Ahuja Partnership Architects | too few | 2 |
| Robert Wanthouse & Associates | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $60,000 | 21 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $67,802 | 40 |
| Senior · Level III | $78,500 | 27 |
| Expert · Level IV | $95,000 | 29 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $51,480 | $60,000 | 21 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $63,773 | $67,802 | 40 |
| Senior · Level III | $72,010 | $78,500 | 27 |
| Expert · Level IV | $88,338 | $95,000 | 29 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.