Architectural and Civil Drafter salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 64 certified H-1B filings in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Pasadena, Santa Monica, Culver City, Newport Beach, South Pasadena.
Also listed as: Architectural Drafter
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $56,742 |
| 25th | $67,787 |
| 50th (median) | $72,218 |
| 75th | $80,000 |
| 90th | $90,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $57,159 | $54,870 | $62,475 | 58 |
| FY2021 | $58,370 | $56,910 | $65,250 | 28 |
| FY2022 | $65,000 | $59,120 | $72,509 | 47 |
| FY2023 | $62,400 | $57,000 | $72,800 | 25 |
| FY2024 | $59,509 | $57,013 | $75,000 | 25 |
| FY2025 | $72,000 | $67,000 | $80,018 | 37 |
| FY2026 | $75,920 | $67,894 | $80,000 | 27 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median Architectural and Civil Drafter salary of $72,218 is worth about $63,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Los Angeles = 113.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Architectural and Civil Drafters in the Los Angeles, CA area earned a median of $76,630 in May 2025 (3,890 employed). The H-1B median here is $72,218, 6% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Arkiterv | too few | 3 |
| MAD Office | too few | 3 |
| MVE & Partners | too few | 3 |
| The Hill Partnership | too few | 3 |
| Atelier Architects | too few | 2 |
| c-a ARCHITECTS | too few | 2 |
| Clerkin & Clerkin, Architects, A professional | too few | 2 |
| Dotz | too few | 2 |
| Feng Xiao Architect | too few | 2 |
| Grand Visionary | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $56,742 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $69,000 | 24 |
| Senior · Level III | $78,926 | 18 |
| Expert · Level IV | $92,019 | 11 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $56,742 | $56,742 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $67,787 | $69,000 | 24 |
| Senior · Level III | $69,430 | $78,926 | 18 |
| Expert · Level IV | $79,352 | $92,019 | 11 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.