Drafting and CAD Degree Programs in Providence, RI (2026)
Quick answer: The Providence metro employs about 370 architectural and civil drafters (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through the employers and design firms you are targeting.
Compare drafting and cad programs enrolling now:
Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Drafting is not a licensed occupation, so there is no state board standing between a graduate and the work. Where a program sits inside engineering technology it may hold ABET-ETAC accreditation, which matters mainly if engineering licensure is a later goal. The market signals employers actually screen on are software fluency and a portfolio, with optional certification through ADDA International.
See the Rhode Island licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with the employers and design firms you are targeting.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
We do not have campus-based schools on record within 250 miles of this area right now. School availability changes as programs open and close, and many programs in this field enroll online - see the main program page for options that are not tied to your location. Know a school we missed? Tell us.
What Architectural and Civil Drafters Earn in Providence
Architectural and Civil Drafters in the Providence area earn a median $70,780 per year, above the national median of $66,150 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Drafting and CAD Pay in Providence, RI
| Metric | Providence metro | Rhode Island | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $70,780 | $71,700 | $66,150 |
| 10th percentile | $47,720 | $52,000 | $46,260 |
| 25th percentile | $58,390 | $61,640 | $55,650 |
| 75th percentile | $81,550 | $83,960 | $80,870 |
| 90th percentile | $106,230 | $105,650 | $99,710 |
| Employment | 370 | 240 | 103,700 |
| Location quotient | 0.77 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Providence median of $70,780 is above the national median of $66,150, and below the Rhode Island statewide median of $71,700 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.77 means architectural and civil drafters are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Drafting demand follows the region’s architecture, engineering and construction firms and its active project pipeline, so it tracks local building activity closely.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in Providence?
The median annual wage for architectural and civil drafters in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $70,780, above the national median of $66,150 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many architectural and civil drafters work in the Providence area?
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area employs about 370 architectural and civil drafters (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do architectural and civil drafters in Providence need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Drafting is not a licensed occupation, so there is no state board standing between a graduate and the work. Where a program sits inside engineering technology it may hold ABET-ETAC accreditation, which matters mainly if engineering licensure is a later goal. The market signals employers actually screen on are software fluency and a portfolio, with optional certification through ADDA International. Confirm current requirements with the employers and design firms you are targeting.
Can I study drafting and cad online from Providence?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the employers and design firms you are targeting.
Is Providence a better market than the rest of Rhode Island?
The Providence metro median is $70,780 against a statewide median of $71,700 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
Related
- Drafting and CAD degree programs in Rhode Island - statewide pay, licensing and metro comparison
- Drafting and CAD programs and how to choose one
- Carpenter career profile - the trade career this degree path builds on
- All online degree paths for tradespeople
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Architectural and Civil Drafters (SOC 17-3011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.