As of August 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Drafting Engineer in San Diego, CA is $66,261, equivalent to $32 per hour, $1,274 weekly, or $5,522 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Drafting Engineer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Drafting Engineer in San Diego, CA vary widely, spanning from $56,508 to $79,241. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($61,156) and 75th percentile ($73,055), while top earners (90th percentile) make $79,241 per year. This $11,899 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Troubleshooting or Installation, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, San Diego Drafting Engineer often earn 2.2% higher than national averages. However, San Diego currently ranks 128 statewide for Drafting Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Drafting Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $56,508 San Diego, CA August 01, 2026
25th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $61,156 San Diego, CA August 01, 2026
50th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $66,261 San Diego, CA August 01, 2026
75th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $73,055 San Diego, CA August 01, 2026
90th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $79,241 San Diego, CA August 01, 2026
25% $61,156 10% $56,508 90% $79,241 75% $73,055 $66,261 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Drafting Engineer

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Job Openings for Drafting Engineer in San Diego, CA

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Drafting Engineer

    0 - 1 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

  2. Up a level:

    CAD Support Technician II

    1 - 3 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Drafting Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
61156
73055
66261

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
67224
83719
74744
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Drafting Engineer in San Diego, CA. The base salary for Drafting Engineer ranges from $61,156 to $73,055 with the average base salary of $66,261. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $67,224 to $83,719 with the average total cash compensation of $74,744.

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61156
73055

 

About San Diego, California    According to SDSU professor emeritus Monte Marshall, San Diego Bay is "the surface expression of a north-south-trending, nested graben". The Rose Cany....More

San Diego, California  area prices were up 2.6% from a year ago

Drafting Engineer Salary in popular cities: Los AngelesSan JoseSan Francisco

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