Architectural and Civil Drafter salary in Washington, DC

Based on 10 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Mclean, Herndon, Vienna, Washington, Dc.

Also listed as: Architectural Drafter

Median salary$75,124
Middle 50%$62.3k–$80.2k
vs. national median+4%comparison median $71,899
Filings10FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $58,592 and $90,095.
PercentileSalary
10th$58,760
25th$62,316
50th (median)$75,124
75th$80,184
90th$86,450

Cost of living

Washington's median Architectural and Civil Drafter salary of $75,124 is worth about $69,000 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).

Compared with all workers here

All Architectural and Civil Drafters in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $76,020 in May 2025 (1,610 employed). The H-1B median here is $75,124, 1% lower.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Top employers filing

EmployerMedianFilings
Dwell Design Studiotoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I – 0
Mid-level · Level II – 0
Senior · Level III too few 2
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.