Architects vs Architectural & Civil Drafters
Median pay is about $33k higher for Architects. The usual entry education is bachelor's plus license for Architects and associate's for Architectural & Civil Drafters.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Architects | Architectural & Civil Drafters |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $99,280, higher | $66,150 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $77,960, higher | $55,650 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $126,550, higher | $80,870 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +4.3% Growing fast | +5.2% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 6,900 | 9,100 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's plus license | Associate's |
| Difficulty modeled | 3.6 / 5 | 1.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | High |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 78th pct | 62nd pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Architects
- Speaking
- Monitoring
Only Architectural & Civil Drafters
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
Both lean on reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, writing.
More comparisons
Compare Architects with
Compare Architectural & Civil Drafters with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.