Prevailing Wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters
Prevailing wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters, the DOL occupation covering architectural drafters, CAD designers, and civil drafters, is set by the Department of Labor using regional survey data. DOL assigns four experience-based levels to each filing, and the floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Entry-level drafters with limited professional experience, typically performing routine drafting tasks under close supervision. Employers filing at Level 1 generally sponsor candidates who are recent graduates or those new to U.S.-based architectural or civil drafting practice.
Qualified drafters with moderate experience who work with some independence on standard drawing sets. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Architectural and Civil Drafters, covering professionals who handle typical project deliverables without requiring constant oversight.
Experienced drafters who manage complex drawing packages, coordinate across disciplines, or mentor junior staff. Employers typically file at Level 3 for professionals expected to exercise independent judgment on technical specifications and construction document quality.
Fully competent senior drafters or lead CAD designers responsible for setting drafting standards, overseeing project drawing production, or serving as the primary technical resource. Level 4 filings reflect supervisory scope or specialized expertise in structural or civil documentation.
Prevailing Wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Architectural and Civil Drafters and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Architectural and Civil Drafters
Verify your title maps to SOC 17-3011
Job postings for architectural designers and CADD drafters sometimes get filed under engineering technician SOC codes instead of 17-3011, which can mean a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm your offer letter title aligns with the DOL occupation before accepting.
Factor in Louisiana and Alaska wage premiums
Anchorage and several Louisiana metros post prevailing wages well above the national median for this occupation, often driven by energy-sector and infrastructure project demand. If you are evaluating competing offers, worksite location can shift your floor by tens of thousands of dollars annually.
Watch for bonus exclusions in base salary offers
DOL prevailing wage compliance for drafters is measured against base salary only. Signing bonuses, project completion bonuses, and per-diem allowances do not count toward the floor, so an offer that looks competitive before bonus may fall short of the certified LCA wage.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsoring firms for drafters
Engineering and architecture firms that have sponsored architectural or civil drafters before are identifiable by their historical sponsorship counts. Migrate Mate shows which employers have actually sponsored this occupation, so you can target outreach to proven sponsors rather than guessing.
Jobs for Architectural and Civil Drafters are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 17-3011.00 alongside Architectural and Civil Drafters, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Architectural Designer Prevailing Wage
Architectural Designer Prevailing Wage
Architectural Designer positions fall under SOC 17-3011.00 (Architectural and Civil Drafters). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Architectural Drafter Prevailing Wage
Architectural Drafter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Architectural Drafter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3011.00 (Architectural and Civil Drafters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Architectural Draftsman Prevailing Wage
Architectural Draftsman Prevailing Wage
Architectural Draftsman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3011.00 (Architectural and Civil Drafters). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Civil Drafter Prevailing Wage
Civil Drafter Prevailing Wage
Civil Drafter positions fall under SOC 17-3011.00 (Architectural and Civil Drafters). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Computer-Aided Design Designer (CAD Designer) Prevailing Wage
Computer-Aided Design Designer (CAD Designer) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Computer-Aided Design Designer (CAD Designer) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3011.00 (Architectural and Civil Drafters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Drafter (CADD Drafter) Prevailing Wage
Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Drafter (CADD Drafter) Prevailing Wage
Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Drafter (CADD Drafter) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3011.00 (Architectural and Civil Drafters). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Computer-Aided Drafting Designer (CAD Designer) Prevailing Wage
Computer-Aided Drafting Designer (CAD Designer) Prevailing Wage
Computer-Aided Drafting Designer (CAD Designer) positions fall under SOC 17-3011.00 (Architectural and Civil Drafters). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Drafting Technician Prevailing Wage
Drafting Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Drafting Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3011.00 (Architectural and Civil Drafters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Draftsman Prevailing Wage
Draftsman Prevailing Wage
Draftsman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3011.00 (Architectural and Civil Drafters). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Draftsperson Prevailing Wage
Draftsperson Prevailing Wage
Draftsperson positions fall under SOC 17-3011.00 (Architectural and Civil Drafters). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metro area, OFLC assigns four wage levels based on the distribution of wages reported for SOC 17-3011. The resulting figures represent the minimum an employer must pay a sponsored worker at each experience level in a given worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 applies to entry-level drafters under close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified professionals working with moderate independence and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced drafters handling complex work independently. Level 4 covers fully competent senior or lead roles. Your level should match the actual job duties and supervision described in the position, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much by city?
OFLC bases wages on regional survey data, so the floor reflects what employers in each metro area actually pay for this occupation. The LCA rule requires employers to use the wage for the certified worksite, not the company headquarters. Dense construction and engineering markets like San Jose or Anchorage report higher wages because local employers compete for qualified drafters, while lower-cost metros reflect their own regional salary norms.
What happens if a job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer sponsoring a drafter through H-1B or a PERM-based green card must certify on the LCA that they will pay at least the prevailing wage for the worksite and level. If the offered salary is below that floor, USCIS can deny the petition. The employer must either increase the salary to meet the floor or refile at the correct wage before submission.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up current DOL wage determinations by SOC code and metropolitan area. Search for SOC 17-3011 and select your worksite metro to see all four level wages. For green card filings, the employer may request a formal Prevailing Wage Determination from OFLC. Migrate Mate also shows which employers have sponsored this occupation by location, helping you identify active hiring markets.
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