Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,870 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in San Francisco earn between $65,580 and $101,760.
- $63K10th
- $66K25th
- $81KMedian
- $102K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $89,290 | $7,441 | $42.93 |
| Median | $81,130 | $6,761 | $39.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,580 | $5,465 | $31.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,760 | $8,480 | $48.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in San Francisco earn 11% more than the California average ($80,360) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $89,290 | $81,130 | $63,200 | $128,870 | 1,750 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $89,290, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $67,434 a year, or $5,619 a month and $2,594 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 San Francisco a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $89,290 buys what about $77,232 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 12.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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
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Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in San Francisco?
$42.93 an hour on average, and $39.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $67,434 a year ($5,619 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $89,290. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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