How much does a Mechanical Drafter make?
A Mechanical Drafter earns a median annual salary of $71,550 in the United States, which works out to roughly $34.40 per hour for full-time work. Most Mechanical Drafters earn between $48,360 at the entry level and $106,580 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $58,080 and $86,120 a year.
That is $10,160 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Mechanical Drafter salary range by percentile
Half of all Mechanical Drafters earn between $58,080 and $86,120 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,360 | $23.25 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $58,080 | $27.92 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $71,550 | $34.40 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $86,120 | $41.40 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,580 | $51.24 |
Highest-paying states for Mechanical Drafter
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Mexico leads the country for Mechanical Drafter pay at $89,940 a year, followed by Colorado ($85,280) and New Jersey ($83,380). At the other end, South Dakota posts the lowest median at $52,610 — a gap of $37,330 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $89,940 | $43.24 | +26% |
| 2 | Colorado | $85,280 | $41.00 | +19% |
| 3 | New Jersey | $83,380 | $40.09 | +17% |
| 4 | California | $82,510 | $39.67 | +15% |
| 5 | Texas | $79,380 | $38.16 | +11% |
Mechanical Drafter salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 47 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 40,000 people work as Mechanical Drafters in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $75,060 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: an associate degree (about 2 years of college) is the typical entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
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