Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in California
$80,360avg. a year
$38.64 an hour · 11,400 employed
Architectural and Civil Drafters in California earn an average of $80,360 a year. That is $9,620 (14%) more than the U.S. average of $70,740. The best-paying metro area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $93,870.
$76,520Median pay
$38.64Average hourly
+25%Avg. pay since 2020
#2Of 49 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for architectural and civil drafters by metro area. Swipe to see all 21.
1610 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$93,870
$45.13 an hour
21,750 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$89,290
$42.93 an hour
3150 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$83,110
$39.96 an hour
4850 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$80,760
$38.83 an hour
560 jobs
Napa, CA
$79,960
$38.44 an hour
61,130 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$79,500
$38.22 an hour
73,890 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$79,180
$38.07 an hour
870 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$79,070
$38.01 an hour
970 jobs
Chico, CA
$77,610
$37.31 an hour
10160 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$76,710
$36.88 an hour
11110 jobs
Modesto, CA
$75,550
$36.32 an hour
12180 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$75,070
$36.09 an hour
13840 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$74,800
$35.96 an hour
14120 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$74,640
$35.89 an hour
1540 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$74,570
$35.85 an hour
16200 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$73,310
$35.24 an hour
1780 jobs
Salinas, CA
$73,030
$35.11 an hour
18150 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$71,450
$34.35 an hour
1990 jobs
Visalia, CA
$70,820
$34.05 an hour
20260 jobs
Fresno, CA
$70,470
$33.88 an hour
2140 jobs
Redding, CA
$68,960
$33.15 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California architectural and civil drafters work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $64k$64k–$68k$68k–$72k$72k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $70,740 | $34.01 |
| California | $80,360 | $38.64 |
| Oregon | $74,430 | $35.79 |
| Nevada | $72,990 | $35.09 |
| Arizona | $69,550 | $33.44 |
Related jobs in California
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$93,750
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,610
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,570
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$87,070
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians$81,840
- Mechanical Drafters$86,750
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do architectural and civil drafters make in California?
The average is $80,360 a year, and the median is $76,520. That is $9,620 (14%) more than the U.S. average of $70,740.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$38.64 an hour on average; the median is $36.79.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,870), followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($89,290). The lowest average among 21 metro areas with data is Redding, CA ($68,960).
How does California rank?
California ranks #2 of 50 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 17-3011. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national architectural and civil drafters page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.