Tennessee Median
$63,390
per year
Hourly Rate
$30.48
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-11% vs US median
US median $71,550
State Rank
#34 of 47
740 employed here
How much does a Mechanical Drafter make in Tennessee?
Mechanical Drafters in Tennessee take home a median of $63,390 annually — roughly $30.48 an hour — which runs 11% below the national median of $71,550.
Within Tennessee, entry-level pay starts around $47,440 while the top 10% make $96,210 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,360 and $76,540 a year.
Mechanical Drafter salary range in Tennessee
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,440 | $22.81 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $51,360 | $24.69 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $63,390 | $30.48 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $76,540 | $36.80 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,210 | $46.25 |
|
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee ranks 34th 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 $63,770South Carolina $63,740Pennsylvania $63,480Oklahoma $63,440Iowa $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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee pay ($63,390) 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 Tennessee?
The median Mechanical Drafter salary in Tennessee is $63,390 per year, or about $30.48 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $47,440 at the entry level to $96,210 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Tennessee pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee pays Mechanical Drafters about 11% less than the national median of $71,550. Tennessee ranks 34th out of 47 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Tennessee a good state for Mechanical Drafters?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $63,390 a year. About 740 Mechanical Drafters are employed in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee?
The highest-paying occupations in Tennessee include Cardiologist ($610,080), Dermatologist ($433,630), Surgeon, All Other ($373,510), 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.