Drafters, All Other salary in the U.S.
Drafters, All Other in the U.S. earn a median of $63,520 a year ($30.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,380 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $68,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for drafters, all other in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| 25th percentile | $51,650 | $24.83 |
| Median | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| 75th percentile | $79,700 | $38.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,380 | $47.78 |
| Average (mean) | $68,250 | $32.81 |
Half of drafters, all other earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,293.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,646.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,443.08 |
| Weekly | $1,221.54 |
| Hourly | $30.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Drafters, All Other salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $77,840 | 350 |
| California | $73,390 | 1,750 |
| Wisconsin | $73,040 | 200 |
| Washington | $72,800 | 520 |
| New York | $72,190 | 610 |
| Massachusetts | $72,100 | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $70,710 | 70 |
| Arizona | $70,070 | 430 |
| Utah | $69,420 | 170 |
| Louisiana | $68,470 | 1,200 |
| Michigan | $67,750 | 360 |
| Mississippi | $67,730 | 70 |
| Colorado | $67,320 | 280 |
| Virginia | $67,220 | 170 |
| Connecticut | $66,620 | 140 |
| Kansas | $66,040 | 50 |
| Minnesota | $63,220 | 170 |
| Montana | $63,200 | 280 |
| Georgia | $62,400 | 550 |
| Nevada | $62,400 | 180 |
| Missouri | $61,990 | 400 |
| South Carolina | $61,250 | 60 |
| Iowa | $60,750 | 230 |
| Texas | $59,990 | 2,450 |
| Florida | $59,970 | 670 |
| Vermont | $59,930 | 90 |
| Puerto Rico | $59,870 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $59,500 | 320 |
| Oregon | $58,790 | 660 |
| Nebraska | $58,640 | 110 |
| Indiana | $58,600 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $57,930 | 50 |
| Ohio | $57,610 | 260 |
| Idaho | $56,430 | 60 |
| Maryland | $55,640 | 160 |
| Maine | $55,460 | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,240 | 250 |
| Illinois | $53,300 | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $49,920 | 40 |
| Arkansas | $48,020 | 100 |
| Alabama | $47,320 | 50 |
Best-paying metro areas for drafters, all other
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $90,850 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,360 | 170 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $81,220 | 550 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $80,470 | n/a |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $79,960 | 180 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,020 | 100 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $77,020 | 320 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $76,330 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $75,150 | 40 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $75,090 | 40 |
| Boulder, CO | $74,630 | 60 |
| Alexandria, LA | $74,540 | 50 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $74,380 | 130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $73,880 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $73,840 | 690 |
Metro areas with the most drafters, all other
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 700 | $61,200 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 690 | $60,820 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 690 | $73,840 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 550 | $81,220 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 450 | $62,610 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 380 | $62,500 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 330 | $70,320 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 330 | $72,990 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 320 | $77,020 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 240 | $64,490 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 190 | $60,950 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 180 | $79,960 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 180 | $65,870 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 170 | $58,810 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 170 | $82,360 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,150 | $31.80 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $66,120 | $31.79 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $54,240 | $26.08 |
| Mechanical Drafter | $71,550 | $34.40 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,510 | $35.82 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $76,870 | $36.96 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $67,820 | $32.61 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $73,900 | $35.53 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $82,890 | $39.85 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-3019. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a drafters, all other make in the U.S.?
The median salary for drafters, all other in the U.S. is $63,520 a year, or $30.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid drafters, all other make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of drafters, all other in the U.S. earn at least $99,380 a year. The top 25% earn $79,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for drafters, all other in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,420 a year, and a quarter of drafters, all other earn $51,650 or less.
How many drafters, all other work in the U.S.?
About 14,470 drafters, all other are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.