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How much does a drafter make in San Diego?

$73,880a year

Median yearly pay for drafters in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $35.52 an hour or $6,157 a month.

Hourly
$35.52
Vs. national median
+16%
Rank among cities
14 of 83
Jobs in the area
140
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $51,920Median: $73,880Highest 10%: $101,700
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$51,920$24.96
25th$63,230$30.40
Median$73,880$35.52
75th$88,940$42.76
90th$101,700$48.90

Other cities in California

Median yearly pay for drafters.

San Jose, CA$90,850
San Francisco, CA$82,360
Sacramento, CA$78,020
Los Angeles, CA$73,840
Riverside, CA$64,330
Bakersfield, CA$47,860
Drafter salary in California Drafter salary in all states

Related jobs in San Diego

Same field, median yearly pay.

Computer Hardware Engineer$174,400
Electronics Engineer$156,500
Aerospace Engineer$135,000
Engineer$132,800
Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer$128,300
Electrical Engineer$127,300
Health and Safety Engineer$124,700
Materials Engineer$124,200
Mechanical Engineer$121,800
Architect$120,000
Salaries for every job in San Diego, CA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a drafter make an hour in San Diego?

The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $35.52 ($73,880 a year).

Do drafters make more in San Diego than the national average?

Yes: $73,880 against $63,520 nationally, 16% more.

How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $73,390, so San Diego pays 1% more.

Where does San Diego rank for drafter pay?

14 of 83 metro areas with data.

How much does a drafter make starting out in San Diego?

The lowest-paid 10% make $51,920 or less a year; the top 10% make $101,700 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.