SOC 17-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Architectural and Civil Drafters — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters in San Jose, CA is $82,820 per year, well above the national median of $66,150.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters in San Jose, CA is $82,820 per year, well above the national median of $66,150. The gap of 25.2% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $55,100 at the tenth percentile to more than $132,600 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $69,800 to $104,410.
The area has 610 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. San Francisco leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $81,130. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 293rd of 574 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,100 | −16.7% |
| 25th | $69,800 | +5.5% |
| Median (50th) | $82,820 | +25.2% |
| 75th | $104,410 | +57.8% |
| 90th | $132,600 | +100.5% |
| Mean | $93,870 | +41.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $81,130 | 1,750 | |
| 2 | Santa Rosa | $80,040 | 150 | |
| 3 | San Diego | $78,340 | 1,130 | |
| 4 | Chico | $77,850 | 70 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $76,950 | 850 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $76,630 | 3,890 | |
| 7 | Napa | $76,000 | 60 | |
| 8 | Vallejo | $75,460 | 70 | |
| 9 | Santa Maria | $73,930 | 180 | |
| 10 | Oxnard | $73,700 | 200 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $82,820 buys what $74,815 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 13.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$82,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$74,815US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $82,820 a year, 25.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $55,100 to $132,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 610 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $81,130.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $82,820, or $39.82 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $66,150, so pay in San Jose, CA is 25.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Jose, CA earns more than $132,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $55,100 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $81,130 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 610 jobs in this occupation in San Jose, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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