Mechanical Drafters Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for mechanical drafters is $71,550, or $34.40 per hour. About 39,960 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $89,940 in New Mexico to $52,610 in South Dakota.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 47 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $89,940 | $43.24 | 90 | 0.40 |
| 2 | Colorado | $85,280 | $41.00 | 580 | 0.78 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $83,380 | $40.09 | 690 | 0.62 |
| 4 | California | $82,510 | $39.67 | 3,640 | 0.78 |
| 5 | Texas | $79,380 | $38.16 | 4,630 | 1.28 |
| 6 | Louisiana | $77,730 | $37.37 | 420 | 0.85 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $77,570 | $37.29 | 100 | 0.86 |
| 8 | Washington | $76,820 | $36.93 | 1,690 | 1.85 |
| 9 | Maryland | $76,740 | $36.89 | 360 | 0.51 |
| 10 | New York | $76,490 | $36.78 | 1,940 | 0.78 |
| 11 | Maine | $76,360 | $36.71 | 620 | 3.75 |
| 12 | Nevada | $75,830 | $36.46 | 250 | 0.64 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $75,490 | $36.29 | 620 | 0.67 |
| 14 | Oregon | $74,000 | $35.58 | 410 | 0.81 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $73,090 | $35.14 | 1,220 | 1.61 |
| 16 | Vermont | $73,040 | $35.12 | 70 | 0.84 |
| 17 | Michigan | $72,280 | $34.75 | 2,030 | 1.80 |
| 18 | Ohio | $70,580 | $33.93 | 1,790 | 1.26 |
| 19 | Utah | $70,000 | $33.65 | 490 | 1.09 |
| 20 | Virginia | $69,630 | $33.48 | 630 | 0.60 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $69,290 | $33.31 | 100 | 0.76 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $68,880 | $33.12 | 510 | 1.00 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $68,830 | $33.09 | 450 | 1.02 |
| 24 | Florida | $68,050 | $32.72 | 1,540 | 0.60 |
| 25 | Arizona | $67,410 | $32.41 | 630 | 0.76 |
| 26 | Georgia | $66,670 | $32.06 | 820 | 0.65 |
| 27 | Missouri | $66,350 | $31.90 | 870 | 1.15 |
| 28 | Kansas | $65,250 | $31.37 | 540 | 1.47 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $65,100 | $31.30 | 140 | 0.76 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $63,770 | $30.66 | 1,630 | 2.15 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $63,740 | $30.64 | 640 | 1.09 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $63,480 | $30.52 | 2,330 | 1.50 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $63,440 | $30.50 | 650 | 1.49 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $63,390 | $30.48 | 740 | 0.88 |
| 35 | Iowa | $63,330 | $30.45 | 630 | 1.58 |
| 36 | Illinois | $63,320 | $30.44 | 450 | 0.29 |
| 37 | Indiana | $62,820 | $30.20 | 1,300 | 1.58 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $61,170 | $29.41 | 530 | 2.01 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $61,070 | $29.36 | 60 | 0.81 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $60,460 | $29.07 | 260 | 0.88 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $59,960 | $28.83 | 250 | 0.74 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $59,050 | $28.39 | 1,350 | 1.06 |
| 43 | Idaho | $59,050 | $28.39 | 330 | 1.49 |
| 44 | Delaware | $57,110 | $27.46 | 160 | 1.26 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $55,390 | $26.63 | — | — |
| 46 | Alabama | $53,600 | $25.77 | 440 | 0.81 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $52,610 | $25.29 | 100 | 0.87 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do mechanical drafters make?
The median annual wage for mechanical drafters in the United States is $71,550, or $34.40 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $48,360, and the top 10% earn $106,580.
How many mechanical drafters are employed in the U.S.?
About 39,960 people work as mechanical drafters nationwide.
Which state pays mechanical drafters the most?
New Mexico pays the most at a median of $89,940, followed by Colorado ($85,280) and New Jersey ($83,380).
Which state pays mechanical drafters the least?
South Dakota has the lowest median at $52,610.
Where are mechanical drafters jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Maine at 3.75×.