Mechanical Drafter Salary in the U.S.
Median annual pay in the U.S.
$71,550
$34.40/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| 25th percentile | $58,080 | $27.93 |
| Median | $71,550 | $34.40 |
| 75th percentile | $86,120 | $41.41 |
| 90th percentile | $106,580 | $51.24 |
Employment
- Employment in the U.S.
- 39,960
Advertisements
Comparison
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | ||
| 1st | $89,940 | $97,536 1st |
| Colorado | ||
| 2nd | $85,280 | $82,754 4th |
| New Jersey | ||
| 3rd | $83,380 | $76,633 7th |
| California | ||
| 4th | $82,510 | $74,521 13th |
| Texas | ||
| 5th | $79,380 | $81,787 5th |
| Louisiana | ||
| 6th | $77,730 | $88,122 2nd |
| North Dakota | ||
| 7th | $77,570 | $87,197 3rd |
| Washington | ||
| 8th | $76,820 | $71,786 21st |
| Maryland | ||
| 9th | $76,740 | $73,114 15th |
| New York | ||
| 10th | $76,490 | $70,876 24th |
| Maine | ||
| 11th | $76,360 | $78,681 6th |
| Nevada | ||
| 12th | $75,830 | $75,846 10th |
| Massachusetts | ||
| 13th | $75,490 | $71,381 23rd |
| Oregon | ||
| 14th | $74,000 | $71,594 22nd |
| Minnesota | ||
| 15th | $73,090 | $74,112 14th |
| Vermont | ||
| 16th | $73,040 | $74,563 12th |
| Michigan | ||
| 17th | $72,280 | $75,122 11th |
| Ohio | ||
| 18th | $70,580 | $76,077 9th |
| Utah | ||
| 19th | $70,000 | $70,804 25th |
| Virginia | ||
| 20th | $69,630 | $68,870 30th |
| Rhode Island | ||
| 21st | $69,290 | $67,745 34th |
| Kentucky | ||
| 22nd | $68,880 | $76,398 8th |
| Connecticut | ||
| 23rd | $68,830 | $66,432 37th |
| Florida | ||
| 24th | $68,050 | $65,803 39th |
| Arizona | ||
| 25th | $67,410 | $66,957 36th |
| Georgia | ||
| 26th | $66,670 | $69,237 27th |
| Missouri | ||
| 27th | $66,350 | $73,059 16th |
| Kansas | ||
| 28th | $65,250 | $72,445 18th |
| West Virginia | ||
| 29th | $65,100 | $72,740 17th |
| Wisconsin | ||
| 30th | $63,770 | $67,772 33rd |
| South Carolina | ||
| 31st | $63,740 | $67,990 31st |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| 32nd | $63,480 | $65,060 40th |
| Oklahoma | ||
| 33rd | $63,440 | $72,220 19th |
| Tennessee | ||
| 34th | $63,390 | $69,000 28th |
| Iowa | ||
| 35th | $63,330 | $72,161 20th |
| Illinois | ||
| 36th | $63,320 | $63,347 41st |
| Indiana | ||
| 37th | $62,820 | $67,310 35th |
| Nebraska | ||
| 38th | $61,170 | $67,889 32nd |
| Wyoming | ||
| 39th | $61,070 | $65,886 38th |
| Mississippi | ||
| 40th | $60,460 | $69,532 26th |
| Arkansas | ||
| 41st | $59,960 | $68,969 29th |
| Idaho | ||
| 42nd | $59,050 | $61,836 43rd |
| North Carolina | ||
| 42nd | $59,050 | $62,602 42nd |
| Delaware | ||
| 44th | $57,110 | $57,220 46th |
| New Hampshire | ||
| 45th | $55,390 | $53,175 47th |
| Alabama | ||
| 46th | $53,600 | $60,345 44th |
| South Dakota | ||
| 47th | $52,610 | $59,389 45th |
Places with the same median share a rank and are listed alphabetically.
Advertisements
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician salary in the U.S.
$74,510/year U.S.
- Machinist salary in the U.S.
$58,750/year U.S.
- Mechanical Engineer salary in the U.S.
$104,110/year U.S.
- Engineers, All Other salary in the U.S.
$122,930/year U.S.
- Industrial Engineer salary in the U.S.
$102,440/year U.S.
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician salary in the U.S.
$64,950/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- −6.0%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- Associate's degree
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Last updated