Kentucky Median
$68,880
per year
Hourly Rate
$33.12
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-4% vs US median
US median $71,550
State Rank
#22 of 47
510 employed here
How much does a Mechanical Drafter make in Kentucky?
Mechanical Drafters in Kentucky take home a median of $68,880 annually — roughly $33.12 an hour — which runs 4% below the national median of $71,550.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $50,530 while the top 10% make $96,020 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,990 and $74,990 a year.
Mechanical Drafter salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,530 | $24.29 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $61,990 | $29.80 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $68,880 | $33.12 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $74,990 | $36.05 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,020 | $46.16 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 22nd 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 $83,380California $82,510Texas $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 $69,290Connecticut $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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky pay ($68,880) 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 Kentucky?
The median Mechanical Drafter salary in Kentucky is $68,880 per year, or about $33.12 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $50,530 at the entry level to $96,020 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Mechanical Drafters about 4% less than the national median of $71,550. Kentucky ranks 22nd out of 47 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Mechanical Drafters?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $68,880 a year. About 510 Mechanical Drafters are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Mechanical Drafter salary report
Related salaries
$63,520
median pay · 14,000 employed
$73,900
median pay · 16,000 employed
$74,510
median pay · 36,000 employed
$59,920
median pay · 12,000 employed
$76,870
median pay · 18,000 employed
$66,150
median pay · 104,000 employed
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.