Electrical and Electronics Drafter Salary in San Jose, CA
Electrical and Electronics Drafters in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $115,530 a year — 50% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $82,089 take-home, or $6,841 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical and electronics drafter salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,587
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,163
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,675
- California income tax$6,515
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,502
- Take-home pay$82,089
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Electrical and Electronics Drafter pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,590 | $28.65 | $47,661 | $3,972 |
| 25th percentile | $75,320 | $36.21 | $58,025 | $4,835 |
| Median (50th) | $115,530 | $55.54 | $82,089 | $6,841 |
| 75th percentile | $172,200 | $82.79 | $114,941 | $9,578 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $210,370 | $101.14 | $138,495 | $11,541 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $115,530 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrical and electronics drafter's $82,089 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,340 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Jose, CA has 3.6× the national concentration of electrical and electronics drafter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for electrical and electronics drafters, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #1 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $115,530 | $82,089 | $74,340 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $79,160 | $64,519 | $65,416 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $83,100 | $67,291 | $65,274 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $79,530 | $61,988 | $58,600 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $68,710 | $55,658 | $53,872 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $77,830 | $59,978 | $53,284 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,630 | $59,435 | $52,335 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
Electrical and Electronics Drafter salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $77,630
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical and electronics drafter make in San Jose, CA?
The median electrical and electronics drafter salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $115,530 a year, or about $55.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,320 and $172,200.
What is a electrical and electronics drafter’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $115,530 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $82,089 a year ($6,841 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,017 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a electrical and electronics drafter?
Pay here is 50% above the national median of $76,870. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,340 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #1 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical and electronics drafter afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median electrical and electronics drafter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $209,860
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $194,370
- Electrical Engineer — $187,060
- Aerospace Engineer — $181,630
- Engineers, All Other — $169,650
- Mechanical Engineer — $168,030
- Materials Engineer — $156,730
- Industrial Engineer — $136,950
- Civil Engineer — $130,280
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $129,640
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician — $96,680
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $95,280