South Carolina Median
$63,740
per year
Hourly Rate
$30.64
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-11% vs US median
US median $71,550
State Rank
#31 of 47
640 employed here
How much does a Mechanical Drafter make in South Carolina?
A Mechanical Drafter working in South Carolina earns a median salary of $63,740 per year, or about $30.64 per hour. That is 11% below the national median of $71,550 for this occupation.
Within South Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $52,550 while the top 10% make $109,840 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $55,140 and $80,240 a year.
Mechanical Drafter salary range in South Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,550 | $25.26 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $55,140 | $26.51 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $63,740 | $30.64 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $80,240 | $38.58 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,840 | $52.81 |
|
How South Carolina compares
South Carolina ranks 31st 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 $69,290Kentucky $68,880Connecticut $68,830Florida $68,050Arizona $67,410Georgia $66,670Missouri $66,350Kansas $65,250West Virginia $65,100Wisconsin $63,770Pennsylvania $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 South Carolina
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 South Carolina pay ($63,740) 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 South Carolina?
The median Mechanical Drafter salary in South Carolina is $63,740 per year, or about $30.64 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $52,550 at the entry level to $109,840 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Carolina pay compare to the national average?
South Carolina pays Mechanical Drafters about 11% less than the national median of $71,550. South Carolina ranks 31st out of 47 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Carolina a good state for Mechanical Drafters?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $63,740 a year. About 640 Mechanical Drafters are employed in South Carolina. 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 South Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in South Carolina include General Internal Medicine Physician ($359,500), Neurologist ($352,680), Emergency Medicine Physician ($341,960), 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.