California Median
$82,510
per year
Hourly Rate
$39.67
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+15% vs US median
US median $71,550
State Rank
#4 of 47
3,640 employed here
How much does a Mechanical Drafter make in California?
Mechanical Drafters in California take home a median of $82,510 annually — roughly $39.67 an hour — which runs 15% above the national median of $71,550.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $50,200 while the top 10% make $128,160 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $65,900 and $102,860 a year.
Mechanical Drafter salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,200 | $24.13 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $65,900 | $31.68 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $82,510 | $39.67 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $102,860 | $49.45 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,160 | $61.62 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 4th out of 47 states and territories for Mechanical Drafter pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Mechanical Drafter salary in other states
New Mexico $89,940Colorado $85,280New Jersey $83,380Texas $79,380Louisiana $77,730North Dakota $77,570Washington $76,820Maryland $76,740New York $76,490Maine $76,360Nevada $75,830Massachusetts $75,490Oregon $74,000Minnesota $73,090Vermont $73,040Michigan $72,280Ohio $70,580Utah $70,000Virginia $69,630Rhode Island $69,290Kentucky $68,880Connecticut $68,830Florida $68,050Arizona $67,410Georgia $66,670Missouri $66,350Kansas $65,250West Virginia $65,100Wisconsin $63,770South Carolina $63,740Pennsylvania $63,480Oklahoma $63,440Tennessee $63,390Iowa $63,330Illinois $63,320Indiana $62,820Nebraska $61,170Wyoming $61,070Mississippi $60,460Arkansas $59,960Idaho $59,050North Carolina $59,050Delaware $57,110New Hampshire $55,390Alabama $53,600South Dakota $52,610
Working as a Mechanical Drafter in California
Nationally, about 40,000 people work as Mechanical Drafters in the United States. An associate degree (about 2 years of college) is the typical entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($82,510) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Mechanical Drafter make in California?
The median Mechanical Drafter salary in California is $82,510 per year, or about $39.67 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $50,200 at the entry level to $128,160 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Mechanical Drafters about 15% more than the national median of $71,550. California ranks 4th out of 47 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Mechanical Drafters?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $82,510 a year. About 3,640 Mechanical Drafters are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Mechanical Drafter salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.