How much does a drafter make in San Jose?
$90,850a year
Median yearly pay for drafters in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $43.68 an hour or $7,571 a month.
- Hourly
- $43.68
- Vs. national median
- +43%
- Rank among cities
- 1 of 83
- Jobs in the area
- 80
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $61,800Median: $90,850Highest 10%: $126,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,800 | $29.71 | |
| 25th | $72,090 | $34.66 | |
| Median | $90,850 | $43.68 | |
| 75th | $101,100 | $48.59 | |
| 90th | $126,700 | $60.93 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for drafters.
| San Francisco, CA | $82,360 |
| Sacramento, CA | $78,020 |
| San Diego, CA | $73,880 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $73,840 |
| Riverside, CA | $64,330 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $47,860 |
Related jobs in San Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $209,900 |
| Electronics Engineer | $194,400 |
| Electrical Engineer | $187,100 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $181,600 |
| Engineer | $169,700 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $168,000 |
| Materials Engineer | $156,700 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $143,100 |
| Industrial Engineer | $137,000 |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $136,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a drafter make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $43.68 ($90,850 a year).
Do drafters make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $90,850 against $63,520 nationally, 43% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $73,390, so San Jose pays 24% more.
Where does San Jose rank for drafter pay?
1 of 83 metro areas with data.
How much does a drafter make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $61,800 or less a year; the top 10% make $126,700 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.