Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Salinas, CA
Architectural and Civil Drafters in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $66,470 a year ($31.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,260 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $66,150. Pay here is 13% lower than the California statewide median of $76,520. There are 0.41 architectural and civil drafters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $73,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for architectural and civil drafters in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,860 | $23.97 |
| 25th percentile | $60,570 | $29.12 |
| Median | $66,470 | $31.96 |
| 75th percentile | $81,170 | $39.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,260 | $48.20 |
| Average (mean) | $73,030 | $35.11 |
Half of architectural and civil drafters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,539.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,769.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,556.54 |
| Weekly | $1,278.27 |
| Hourly | $31.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $82,820 | 610 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $81,130 | 1,750 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $80,040 | 150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $78,340 | 1,130 |
| Chico, CA | $77,850 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,950 | 850 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $76,630 | 3,890 |
| Napa, CA | $76,000 | 60 |
| Vallejo, CA | $75,460 | 70 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $73,930 | 180 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $73,700 | 200 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $71,860 | 160 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $70,800 | 120 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $70,580 | 840 |
| Visalia, CA | $68,470 | 90 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $67,930 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $66,930 | 150 |
| Modesto, CA | $65,230 | 110 |
| Fresno, CA | $64,280 | 260 |
| Redding, CA | $63,410 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for architectural and civil drafters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $97,880 |
| Massachusetts | $76,990 |
| California | $76,520 |
| Colorado | $76,370 |
| Connecticut | $76,290 |
| New York | $76,260 |
| Maryland | $75,180 |
| Georgia | $74,940 |
| Oregon | $74,000 |
| Delaware | $73,040 |
See Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $81,230 | $39.06 |
| Civil Engineer | $122,160 | $58.73 |
| Engineers, All Other | $98,950 | $47.57 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $132,560 | $63.73 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,600 | $47.89 |
| Industrial Engineer | $95,100 | $45.72 |
| Electrical Engineer | $126,460 | $60.80 |
| Landscape Architect | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| Surveyor | $101,120 | $48.62 |
| Environmental Engineer | $126,670 | $60.90 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a architectural and civil drafters make in Salinas, CA?
The median salary for architectural and civil drafters in the Salinas, CA metro area is $66,470 a year, or $31.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid architectural and civil drafters make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of architectural and civil drafters in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $100,260 a year. The top 25% earn $81,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for architectural and civil drafters in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,860 a year, and a quarter of architectural and civil drafters earn $60,570 or less.
How many architectural and civil drafters work in Salinas, CA?
About 80 architectural and civil drafters are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.