Mechanical Drafter Salary
Mechanical Drafters earn a median $71,550 a year nationally. Architecture and Engineering Occupations
U.S. median
$71,550
$34.40 per hour
Range
$48,360 – $106,580
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
39,960
across the U.S.
Mechanical Drafter take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$59,165
per year · effective tax rate 17.3%
$4,930Monthly
$2,465Twice a month
$2,276Every 2 weeks
$28.44Hourly
- Federal income tax$6,911
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,436
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,037
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$59,165
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,360 | $23.25 | $41,037 |
| 25th percentile | $58,080 | $27.92 | $48,847 |
| Median (50th) | $71,550 | $34.40 | $59,165 |
| 75th percentile | $86,120 | $41.40 | $69,415 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,580 | $51.24 | $83,809 |
Best cities for mechanical drafters (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $94,470 | $75,290 | $67,747 | 1,020 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $83,200 | $67,361 | $65,342 | 1,620 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $78,820 | $64,280 | $65,173 | 1,300 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $69,550 | $55,623 | $58,754 | 540 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $75,360 | $58,557 | $58,523 | 500 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $75,050 | $58,689 | $58,514 | 970 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $76,360 | $58,577 | $57,508 | 570 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,100 | $58,684 | $57,223 | 730 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $69,150 | $55,193 | $56,937 | 470 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $84,070 | $64,030 | $56,884 | 1,180 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $75,770 | $58,505 | $55,814 | 830 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $80,780 | $61,326 | $54,000 | 1,480 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $67,600 | $54,905 | $53,143 | 510 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Seattle, WA — $94,470
- New York, NY — $84,070
- Dallas, TX — $83,200
- Los Angeles, CA — $80,780
- Houston, TX — $78,820
- Portland, ME — $76,360
- Minneapolis, MN — $75,770
- Atlanta, GA — $75,360
- Detroit, MI — $75,050
- Philadelphia, PA — $74,100
- Pittsburgh, PA — $69,550
- Milwaukee, WI — $69,150
- Phoenix, AZ — $67,600
Mechanical Drafter salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $89,940 | $69,027 | $52,840 – $131,340 | 90 |
| Colorado | $85,280 | $65,781 | $57,700 – $127,880 | 580 |
| New Jersey | $83,380 | $64,366 | $55,890 – $121,250 | 690 |
| California | $82,510 | $62,359 | $50,200 – $128,160 | 3,640 |
| Texas | $79,380 | $64,674 | $52,000 – $106,080 | 4,630 |
| Louisiana | $77,730 | $61,567 | $44,460 – $142,240 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $77,570 | $63,147 | $56,380 – $121,580 | 100 |
| Washington | $76,820 | $62,873 | $53,500 – $137,690 | 1,690 |
| Maryland | $76,740 | $59,535 | $51,890 – $123,090 | 360 |
| New York | $76,490 | $59,107 | $51,990 – $109,530 | 1,940 |
| Maine | $76,360 | $58,577 | $52,170 – $76,360 | 620 |
| Nevada | $75,830 | $62,176 | $43,010 – $123,050 | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $75,490 | $58,383 | $52,660 – $108,020 | 620 |
| Oregon | $74,000 | $55,244 | $53,950 – $122,470 | 410 |
| Minnesota | $73,090 | $56,802 | $52,380 – $100,080 | 1,220 |
| Vermont | $73,040 | $57,853 | $51,700 – $105,980 | 70 |
| Michigan | $72,280 | $56,858 | $47,100 – $112,170 | 2,030 |
| Ohio | $70,580 | $57,324 | $49,400 – $98,740 | 1,790 |
| Utah | $70,000 | $55,891 | $47,840 – $101,020 | 490 |
| Virginia | $69,630 | $54,625 | $47,840 – $94,800 | 630 |
| Rhode Island | $69,290 | $55,594 | $42,070 – $96,830 | 100 |
| Kentucky | $68,880 | $54,994 | $50,530 – $96,020 | 510 |
| Connecticut | $68,830 | $55,041 | $42,530 – $103,380 | 450 |
| Florida | $68,050 | $56,703 | $45,760 – $100,400 | 1,540 |
| Arizona | $67,410 | $54,776 | $46,360 – $104,870 | 630 |
| Georgia | $66,670 | $52,895 | $49,920 – $107,140 | 820 |
| Missouri | $66,350 | $53,311 | $49,750 – $108,120 | 870 |
| Kansas | $65,250 | $51,767 | $45,870 – $100,380 | 540 |
| West Virginia | $65,100 | $52,285 | $51,270 – $99,540 | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $63,770 | $51,394 | $48,010 – $92,260 | 1,630 |
| South Carolina | $63,740 | $50,728 | $52,550 – $109,840 | 640 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,480 | $51,237 | $47,700 – $95,130 | 2,330 |
| Oklahoma | $63,440 | $50,845 | $42,130 – $92,040 | 650 |
| Tennessee | $63,390 | $53,114 | $47,440 – $96,210 | 740 |
| Iowa | $63,330 | $51,311 | $46,760 – $95,370 | 630 |
| Illinois | $63,320 | $50,068 | $56,710 – $94,930 | 450 |
| Indiana | $62,820 | $50,832 | $45,470 – $88,470 | 1,300 |
| Nebraska | $61,170 | $49,426 | $43,150 – $92,160 | 530 |
| Wyoming | $61,070 | $51,250 | $49,850 – $92,570 | 60 |
| Mississippi | $60,460 | $49,073 | $38,520 – $105,120 | 260 |
| Arkansas | $59,960 | $48,232 | $48,850 – $81,010 | 250 |
| Idaho | $59,050 | $47,605 | $46,190 – $104,100 | 330 |
| North Carolina | $59,050 | $47,779 | $45,490 – $84,560 | 1,350 |
| Delaware | $57,110 | $45,575 | $49,000 – $84,750 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $55,390 | $46,686 | $39,990 – $87,070 | — |
| Alabama | $53,600 | $42,833 | $39,630 – $89,600 | 440 |
| South Dakota | $52,610 | $44,452 | $41,760 – $68,620 | 100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical drafter make?
The national median salary for mechanical drafters is $71,550 a year ($34.40 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,360 and the top 10% earn over $106,580. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays mechanical drafters the most?
New Mexico has the highest median pay at $89,940. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many mechanical drafters are there in the U.S.?
About 39,960 people work as mechanical drafters nationwide.