Mechanical Drafter salary in the U.S.
Mechanical Drafters in the U.S. earn a median of $71,550 a year ($34.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 39,960 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,580 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $75,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical drafters in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| 25th percentile | $58,080 | $27.93 |
| Median | $71,550 | $34.40 |
| 75th percentile | $86,120 | $41.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,580 | $51.24 |
| Average (mean) | $75,060 | $36.09 |
Half of mechanical drafters 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 | $5,962.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,981.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,751.92 |
| Weekly | $1,375.96 |
| Hourly | $34.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Mechanical Drafter salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $89,940 | 90 |
| Colorado | $85,280 | 580 |
| New Jersey | $83,380 | 690 |
| California | $82,510 | 3,640 |
| Texas | $79,380 | 4,630 |
| Louisiana | $77,730 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $77,570 | 100 |
| Washington | $76,820 | 1,690 |
| Maryland | $76,740 | 360 |
| New York | $76,490 | 1,940 |
| Maine | $76,360 | 620 |
| Nevada | $75,830 | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $75,490 | 620 |
| Oregon | $74,000 | 410 |
| Minnesota | $73,090 | 1,220 |
| Vermont | $73,040 | 70 |
| Michigan | $72,280 | 2,030 |
| Ohio | $70,580 | 1,790 |
| Utah | $70,000 | 490 |
| Virginia | $69,630 | 630 |
| Rhode Island | $69,290 | 100 |
| Kentucky | $68,880 | 510 |
| Connecticut | $68,830 | 450 |
| Florida | $68,050 | 1,540 |
| Arizona | $67,410 | 630 |
| Georgia | $66,670 | 820 |
| Missouri | $66,350 | 870 |
| Kansas | $65,250 | 540 |
| West Virginia | $65,100 | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $63,770 | 1,630 |
| South Carolina | $63,740 | 640 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,480 | 2,330 |
| Oklahoma | $63,440 | 650 |
| Tennessee | $63,390 | 740 |
| Iowa | $63,330 | 630 |
| Illinois | $63,320 | 450 |
| Indiana | $62,820 | 1,300 |
| Nebraska | $61,170 | 530 |
| Wyoming | $61,070 | 60 |
| Mississippi | $60,460 | 260 |
| Arkansas | $59,960 | 250 |
| Idaho | $59,050 | 330 |
| North Carolina | $59,050 | 1,350 |
| Delaware | $57,110 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $55,390 | n/a |
| Alabama | $53,600 | 440 |
| Puerto Rico | $53,470 | 320 |
| South Dakota | $52,610 | 100 |
Best-paying metro areas for mechanical drafters
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $102,710 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,310 | 390 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,450 | 240 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $94,470 | 1,020 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $94,140 | 50 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $90,160 | 380 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $87,860 | 30 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $87,220 | 120 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $86,420 | 60 |
| Midland, TX | $86,100 | 40 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $84,100 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $84,070 | 1,180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,550 | 370 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $83,200 | 1,620 |
| Niles, MI | $82,960 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most mechanical drafters
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,620 | $83,200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,480 | $80,780 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,300 | $78,820 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,180 | $84,070 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,020 | $94,470 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 970 | $75,050 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 830 | $75,770 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 730 | $74,100 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 570 | $76,360 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 540 | $69,550 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 510 | $67,600 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 500 | $75,360 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 470 | $69,150 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 410 | $78,210 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 410 | $80,510 |
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 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 |
| Drafters, All Other | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| 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 17-3013. 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 mechanical drafter make in the U.S.?
The median salary for mechanical drafters in the U.S. is $71,550 a year, or $34.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical drafters make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of mechanical drafters in the U.S. earn at least $106,580 a year. The top 25% earn $86,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical drafters in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,360 a year, and a quarter of mechanical drafters earn $58,080 or less.
How many mechanical drafters work in the U.S.?
About 39,960 mechanical drafters are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.