Architectural and Civil Drafters salary
in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Middle 50%
- $69,800–$104,410
- vs U.S. median
- +25%
- Metro rank
- #1 of 88
Architectural and Civil Drafters in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro earn a median of $82,820 a year, based on BLS estimates for 610 jobs (May 2025). That is 25% above the U.S. median of $66,150 and 8% above the CA statewide median of $76,520. It ranks #1 of 88 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE610 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Employers filing for this job in San Jose
1 employers · DOL
Median of each employer’s DOL LCA filings (5+ filings) in this metro, FY2026 Q3. Visa-sponsored positions only, base pay.
| Employer | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Alignment Architects | $78,354 | 6 |
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in other CA metros
7 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $81,130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $78,340 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,950 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $76,630 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $73,700 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $70,580 |
| Fresno, CA | $64,280 |
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Questions
What is the average Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in San Jose?
The BLS median is $82,820 a year (May 2025). Half of the 610 jobs pay between $69,800 and $104,410. The 10th percentile is $55,100 and the 90th is $132,600.
Is San Jose a high-paying metro for Architectural and Civil Drafters?
That is 25% above the U.S. median of $66,150 and 8% above the CA statewide median of $76,520. It ranks #1 of 88 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Architectural and Civil Drafters make an hour in San Jose?
About $39.82 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $82,820 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $33.56–$50.20 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Which employers pay Architectural and Civil Drafters the most in San Jose?
Among employers with 5+ visa-sponsored filings here, the highest medians were Alignment Architects ($78,354). These are base wages for sponsored positions, not all employees.
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.