Entry-level Architectural and Civil Drafter salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $50,000 |
| 25th | $54,371 |
| 50th (median) | $56,742 |
| 75th | $59,871 |
| 90th | $68,640 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median entry-level Architectural and Civil Drafter salary of $56,742 is worth about $50,000 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 $56,742, 26% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Dotz | too few | 2 |
| UPON Professional | 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.