As of August 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Drafting Engineer in San Francisco, CA is $76,601, equivalent to $37 per hour, $1,473 weekly, or $6,383 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 Francisco, CA vary widely, spanning from $65,326 to $91,607. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($70,699) and 75th percentile ($84,456), while top earners (90th percentile) make $91,607 per year. This $13,757 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 Francisco Drafting Engineer often earn 13.1% higher than national averages. However, San Francisco currently ranks 3 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 $65,326 San Francisco, CA August 01, 2026
25th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $70,699 San Francisco, CA August 01, 2026
50th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $76,601 San Francisco, CA August 01, 2026
75th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $84,456 San Francisco, CA August 01, 2026
90th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $91,607 San Francisco, CA August 01, 2026
25% $70,699 10% $65,326 90% $91,607 75% $84,456 $76,601 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Change Search Criteria

Drafting Engineer

Review the job openings, similar jobs, level of education, and experience requirements for the Drafting Engineer job to confirm that it is the job you are seeking.

See user submitted job responsibilities for Drafting Engineer.

Job Openings for Drafting Engineer in San Francisco, 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

 
 
 
70699
84456
76601

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
77714
96784
86407
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 Francisco, CA. The base salary for Drafting Engineer ranges from $70,699 to $84,456 with the average base salary of $76,601. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $77,714 to $96,784 with the average total cash compensation of $86,407.

Discover how your pay is adjusted for skills, experience, and other factors

How much should you be paid?

For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

70699
84456

 

About San Francisco, California    San Francisco is located on the West Coast of the United States at the north end of the San Francisco Peninsula and includes significant stretches of ....More

San Francisco, California  area prices were up 4.5% from a year ago

Drafting Engineer Salary in popular cities: Los AngelesSan DiegoSan Jose

Recently searched related titles: Commercial Title Examiner, Survey Cad Technician

Jobs with a similar salary range to Drafting Engineer : Defense Contractor, Mac Genius, Cosmetics Account Coordinator