Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $108,570 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Sacramento earn between $61,140 and $98,510.
- $50K10th
- $61K25th
- $77KMedian
- $99K75th
- $109K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,760 | $6,730 | $38.83 |
| Median | $76,950 | $6,412 | $37.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,140 | $5,095 | $29.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,510 | $8,209 | $47.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Sacramento earn about the same as the California average ($80,360) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $80,760 | $76,950 | $49,850 | $108,570 | 850 |
| California | $80,360 | $76,520 | $49,850 | $114,600 | 11,400 |
| United States | $70,740 | $66,150 | $46,260 | $99,710 | 103,700 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary after taxes in Sacramento
On the average salary of $80,760, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $62,226 a year, or $5,186 a month and $2,393 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Sacramento a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $80,760 buys what about $75,710 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 4th of 21 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($93,870).
- San Jose$93,870
- San Francisco$89,290
- Santa Rosa$83,110
- Sacramento$80,760
- Napa$79,960
- San Diego$79,500
- Los Angeles$79,180
- Vallejo$79,070
- Chico$77,610
- San Luis Obispo$76,710
Highest-paying cities for architectural and civil drafters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($93,870).
- San Jose, CA$93,870
- Lake Charles, LA$90,720
- San Francisco, CA$89,290
- Denver, CO$83,770
- Rochester, MN$83,220
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in Sacramento: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Sacramento?
$38.83 an hour on average, and $37.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $62,226 a year ($5,186 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,760. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($70,740).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-3011; area Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.