Architectural and Civil Drafters pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,260 or more. The middle half of architectural and civil drafters in Salinas earn between $60,570 and $81,170.
- $50K10th
- $61K25th
- $66KMedian
- $81K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,030 | $6,086 | $35.11 |
| Median | $66,470 | $5,539 | $31.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,570 | $5,048 | $29.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,170 | $6,764 | $39.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architectural and Civil Drafters pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Architectural and civil drafters in Salinas earn 9% less than the California average ($80,360) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($70,740). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $66,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $73,030 | $66,470 | $49,860 | $100,260 | 80 |
| 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 Salinas
On the average salary of $73,030, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $57,437 a year, or $4,786 a month and $2,209 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 Salinas a good place for architectural and civil drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $73,030 buys what about $66,974 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 11.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Architectural and Civil Drafters salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 17th 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
- Salinas$73,030
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 Salinas: questions
How much do architectural and civil drafters make an hour in Salinas?
$35.11 an hour on average, and $31.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architectural and civil drafters salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architectural and civil drafters take-home pay in Salinas?
About $57,437 a year ($4,786 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,030. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do architectural and civil drafters earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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