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Architectural and Civil Drafters Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 11,400 Architectural and Civil Drafters professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
11,400
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
11.4
workers
Location Quotient
5.6
vs national avg
Average Salary
$80K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 5.6 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Architectural and Civil Drafters professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
11,400
National: 103,740
11.0% of national
Jobs per 1,000
11.4
National: 2.03
+461.6%
Average Salary
$80K
National: $68K
+16.8%

Top States by Architectural and Civil Drafters Employment

#1
11,710
11,710
employed
#2
11,400
11,400
employed
#3
7,530
7,530
employed
#4
7,380
7,380
employed
#5
5,370
5,370
employed
#6
3,970
3,970
employed
#7
3,570
3,570
employed
#8
2,860
2,860
employed
#9
2,680
2,680
employed
#10
2,660
2,660
employed

What Does a Architectural and Civil Drafters Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Architectural and Civil Drafters in California is $80,360. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Architectural and Civil Drafters jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 11,400 Architectural and Civil Drafters professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Architectural and Civil Drafters in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Architectural and Civil Drafters jobs (LQ: 5.6). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Architectural and Civil Drafters in California?

The average (mean) salary for Architectural and Civil Drafters in California is $80360/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Architectural and Civil Drafters professionals?

The top state for Architectural and Civil Drafters employment is Texas with 11,710 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

Top Cities in California

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Top Colleges in California

Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at California's leading institutions.

Architectural and Civil Drafters Employment in Other States

Compare Architectural and Civil Drafters labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Architectural and Civil Drafters & California Resources

Drill deeper into Architectural and Civil Drafters pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Architectural and Civil Drafters (SOC 173011) in California.

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