How much do Architectural and Civil Drafters make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

Percentile spread

For Architectural and Civil Drafters, the published 10th percentile is $45,590 and the 90th percentile is $96,290. The difference is $50,700, which is 78.9% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $60,110 to the 75th at $79,650, covers $19,540.

The mean annual wage is $69,730, which sits above the median of $64,240. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median is 2.9% lower than the national median of $66,150 for Architectural and Civil Drafters. In 2024 national prices the local median is $70,054, which is 5.9% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is about the same as the Iowa median of $64,220.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 91.701, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $64,240 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Architectural and Civil Drafters at $70,054 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

12 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Architectural and Civil Drafters. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ranks 5th of 13 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

• Ames, IA is 32 miles away, with a median of $63,620 and employment of 50. That median is 1% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $71,620, against $70,054 here.
• Iowa City, IA is 109 miles away, with a median of $59,990 and employment of 70. That median is 6.6% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $65,556, against $70,054 here.
• Cedar Rapids, IA is 115 miles away, with a median of $62,660 and employment of 100. That median is 2.5% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $70,434, against $70,054 here.

Employment share

Architectural and Civil Drafters accounts for 0.09% of wage-and-salary employment in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (360 of 404,130). Nationally the occupation is 0.07% of employment (103,700 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.34 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.