Mechanical Drafter Salary in Portland, ME
Mechanical Drafters in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area earn a median $76,360 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,577 take-home, or $4,881 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical drafter salary in Portland, ME. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,969
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,734
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,107
- Maine income tax$3,973
- Take-home pay$58,577
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.75% state
Mechanical Drafter pay by experience in Portland, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,170 | $25.08 | $41,759 | $3,480 |
| 25th percentile | $61,470 | $29.55 | $48,604 | $4,050 |
| Median (50th) | $76,360 | $36.71 | $58,577 | $4,881 |
| 75th percentile | $76,360 | $36.71 | $58,577 | $4,881 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,360 | $36.71 | $58,577 | $4,881 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,360 buys in Portland, ME
Prices in Portland, ME are 1.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical drafter's $58,577 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,508 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Portland, ME has 7.8× the national concentration of mechanical drafter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for mechanical drafters, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, ME ranks #7 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $94,470 | $75,290 | $67,747 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $83,200 | $67,361 | $65,342 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $78,820 | $64,280 | $65,173 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $69,550 | $55,623 | $58,754 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $75,360 | $58,557 | $58,523 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $75,050 | $58,689 | $58,514 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $76,360 | $58,577 | $57,508 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,100 | $58,684 | $57,223 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical drafter make in Portland, ME?
The median mechanical drafter salary in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area is $76,360 a year, or about $36.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,470 and $76,360.
What is a mechanical drafter’s take-home pay in Portland, ME?
On the median $76,360 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $58,577 a year ($4,881 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,973 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, ME a good place to work as a mechanical drafter?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $71,550. Local prices are 1.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,508 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, ME ranks #7 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical drafter afford rent in Portland, ME?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, ME is $1,548 a month ($1,968 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median mechanical drafter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, ME
- Engineers, All Other — $123,780
- Electrical Engineer — $113,760
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $108,850
- Mechanical Engineer — $107,060
- Civil Engineer — $102,240
- Industrial Engineer — $101,030