Drafters, All Other pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $126,730 or more. The middle half of other drafters in San Jose earn between $72,090 and $101,060.
- $62K10th
- $72K25th
- $91KMedian
- $101K75th
- $127K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,260 | $7,605 | $43.88 |
| Median | $90,850 | $7,571 | $43.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,090 | $6,008 | $34.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,060 | $8,422 | $48.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Drafters, All Other pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Other drafters in San Jose earn 20% more than the California average ($75,890) and 34% more than the U.S. average ($68,250). At the median the gap is +43% against the U.S. median of $63,520.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $91,260 | $90,850 | $61,800 | $126,730 | 80 |
| California | $75,890 | $73,390 | $49,200 | $104,290 | 1,750 |
| United States | $68,250 | $63,520 | $43,420 | $99,380 | 14,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Drafters, All Other salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $91,260, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $68,636 a year, or $5,720 a month and $2,640 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 Jose a good place for other drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $91,260 buys what about $82,646 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 17.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Drafters, All Other salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 11 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Jose$91,260
- San Francisco$88,560
- Fresno$79,560
- Sacramento$78,450
- San Diego$76,320
- Los Angeles$75,600
- Oxnard$74,150
- Modesto$72,500
- Stockton$69,870
- Riverside$68,760
Highest-paying cities for other drafters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,260).
- San Jose, CA$91,260
- San Francisco, CA$88,560
- New York, NY$87,900
- Milwaukee, WI$82,450
- Baton Rouge, LA$82,190
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Drafters, All Other salary in San Jose: questions
How much do other drafters make an hour in San Jose?
$43.88 an hour on average, and $43.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other drafters salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other drafters take-home pay in San Jose?
About $68,636 a year ($5,720 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,260. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do other drafters earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 34% more than the U.S. average for this job ($68,250).
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 17-3019; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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