Mechanical Drafter salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Mechanical Drafters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $75,770 a year ($36.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 830 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,990 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $71,550. Pay here is 4% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $73,090. There are 0.43 mechanical drafters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $77,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical drafters in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,130 | $27.47 |
| 25th percentile | $65,510 | $31.50 |
| Median | $75,770 | $36.43 |
| 75th percentile | $82,310 | $39.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,990 | $49.03 |
| Average (mean) | $77,920 | $37.46 |
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 | $6,314.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,157.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,914.23 |
| Weekly | $1,457.12 |
| Hourly | $36.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $75,770 salary, see how much house you can afford in Minnesota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Mechanical Drafter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | $77,520 | 40 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $75,240 | 50 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $75,160 | 30 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $73,440 | 60 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $69,150 | 470 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $67,750 | 40 |
| Mankato, MN | $67,250 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $64,990 | 180 |
| Appleton, WI | $64,320 | 80 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $64,000 | 70 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $63,440 | 30 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $63,230 | 40 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $62,550 | 40 |
| Kenosha, WI | $61,800 | 30 |
| Green Bay, WI | $61,590 | 120 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $61,290 | 30 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $61,270 | 60 |
| Wausau, WI | $57,920 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical drafters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $89,940 |
| Colorado | $85,280 |
| New Jersey | $83,380 |
| California | $82,510 |
| Texas | $79,380 |
| Louisiana | $77,730 |
| North Dakota | $77,570 |
| Washington | $76,820 |
| Maryland | $76,740 |
| New York | $76,490 |
See Mechanical Drafter pay in every state or the Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $73,060 | $35.13 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $72,020 | $34.63 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $79,890 | $38.41 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,280 | $37.64 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $76,140 | $36.61 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $81,290 | $39.08 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $61,100 | $29.38 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $65,020 | $31.26 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $78,080 | $37.54 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $78,170 | $37.58 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Drafters, All Other | $63,540 | $30.55 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| Industrial Engineer | $104,730 | $50.35 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for mechanical drafters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $75,770 a year, or $36.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical drafters make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of mechanical drafters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $101,990 a year. The top 25% earn $82,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical drafters in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,130 a year, and a quarter of mechanical drafters earn $65,510 or less.
How many mechanical drafters work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 830 mechanical drafters are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.