Mid-level Architectural and Civil Drafter salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 24 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $59,656 |
| 25th | $67,787 |
| 50th (median) | $69,000 |
| 75th | $74,036 |
| 90th | $78,728 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $58,000 | $55,000 | $62,000 | 37 |
| FY2021 | $58,370 | $57,960 | $64,914 | 14 |
| FY2022 | $62,400 | $58,120 | $64,000 | 23 |
| FY2023 | $57,013 | $57,000 | $62,400 | 13 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2025 | $67,787 | $59,877 | $71,250 | 12 |
| FY2026 | $72,904 | $67,947 | $78,260 | 12 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median mid-level Architectural and Civil Drafter salary of $69,000 is worth about $60,800 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 $69,000, 10% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| MVE & Partners | too few | 3 |
| Clerkin & Clerkin, Architects, A professional | too few | 2 |
| MAD Office | 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.