Mechanical Drafters Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for mechanical drafterss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $75,060 ≈ $36/hr
National median salary $71,550
Total employment 39,960 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth -6.5%
Decline
Annual openings 3,300 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 42,900 → 40,100 (-2,800)
Typical entry education Associate's degree
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- New Mexico$98,460
- Colorado$93,270
- Washington$87,150
- California$86,750
- Louisiana$86,680
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- South Dakota$56,030
- Alabama$61,230
- New Hampshire$61,240
- Delaware$61,690
- North Carolina$62,030
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $98,460 | $89,940 | $47 | +31.2% | 90 |
| 2 | Colorado | $93,270 | $85,280 | $45 | +24.3% | 580 |
| 3 | Washington | $87,150 | $76,820 | $42 | +16.1% | 1,690 |
| 4 | California | $86,750 | $82,510 | $42 | +15.6% | 3,640 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $86,680 | $77,730 | $42 | +15.5% | 420 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $86,540 | $83,380 | $42 | +15.3% | 690 |
| 7 | Maryland | $81,200 | $76,740 | $39 | +8.2% | 360 |
| 8 | Oregon | $80,870 | $74,000 | $39 | +7.7% | 410 |
| 9 | Texas | $80,450 | $79,380 | $39 | +7.2% | 4,630 |
| 10 | New York | $79,250 | $76,490 | $38 | +5.6% | 1,940 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $79,060 | $75,490 | $38 | +5.3% | 620 |
| 12 | Nevada | $78,230 | $75,830 | $38 | +4.2% | 250 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $77,950 | $77,570 | $37 | +3.9% | 100 |
| 14 | Vermont | $76,120 | $73,040 | $37 | +1.4% | 70 |
| 15 | Michigan | $75,920 | $72,280 | $37 | +1.1% | 2,030 |
| 16 | Georgia | $74,150 | $66,670 | $36 | -1.2% | 820 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $73,850 | $73,090 | $36 | -1.6% | 1,220 |
| 18 | Missouri | $73,680 | $66,350 | $35 | -1.8% | 870 |
| 19 | Utah | $72,730 | $70,000 | $35 | -3.1% | 490 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $72,080 | $63,740 | $35 | -4% | 640 |
| 21 | Arizona | $72,030 | $67,410 | $35 | -4% | 630 |
| 22 | Virginia | $71,730 | $69,630 | $34 | -4.4% | 630 |
| 23 | Ohio | $71,460 | $70,580 | $34 | -4.8% | 1,790 |
| 24 | Illinois | $71,290 | $63,320 | $34 | -5% | 450 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $71,180 | $68,830 | $34 | -5.2% | 450 |
| 26 | Kansas | $71,170 | $65,250 | $34 | -5.2% | 540 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $70,850 | $69,290 | $34 | -5.6% | 100 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $70,340 | $65,100 | $34 | -6.3% | 140 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $70,250 | $63,480 | $34 | -6.4% | 2,330 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $70,230 | $68,880 | $34 | -6.4% | 510 |
| 31 | Florida | $70,180 | $68,050 | $34 | -6.5% | 1,540 |
| 32 | Maine | $68,780 | $76,360 | $33 | -8.4% | 620 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $68,100 | $63,390 | $33 | -9.3% | 740 |
| 34 | Idaho | $68,050 | $59,050 | $33 | -9.3% | 330 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $67,960 | $63,770 | $33 | -9.5% | 1,630 |
| 36 | Iowa | $66,820 | $63,330 | $32 | -11% | 630 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $66,330 | $63,440 | $32 | -11.6% | 650 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $66,140 | $60,460 | $32 | -11.9% | 260 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $65,450 | $61,070 | $31 | -12.8% | 60 |
| 40 | Indiana | $65,210 | $62,820 | $31 | -13.1% | 1,300 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $64,230 | $61,170 | $31 | -14.4% | 530 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $64,200 | $59,960 | $31 | -14.5% | 250 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $62,030 | $59,050 | $30 | -17.4% | 1,350 |
| 44 | Delaware | $61,690 | $57,110 | $30 | -17.8% | 160 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $61,240 | $55,390 | $29 | -18.4% | — |
| 46 | Alabama | $61,230 | $53,600 | $29 | -18.4% | 440 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $56,030 | $52,610 | $27 | -25.4% | 100 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 239 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder, CO | $102,710 | $109,830 | 60 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,310 | $98,950 | 390 |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,450 | $101,310 | 240 |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $94,470 | $98,470 | 1,020 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $94,140 | $104,030 | 50 |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $90,160 | $94,930 | 380 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $87,860 | $92,970 | 30 |
| 8 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $87,220 | $91,660 | 120 |
| 9 | Idaho Falls, ID | $86,420 | $80,540 | 60 |
| 10 | Midland, TX | $86,100 | $88,440 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing mechanical drafterss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $108,350 | $107,810 | 1,200 |
| 2 | Construction of Buildings | $102,860 | $91,720 | — |
| 3 | Nonresidential Building Construction | $102,860 | $96,470 | — |
| 4 | Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $96,950 | $96,060 | 170 |
| 5 | Educational Services | $94,070 | $84,120 | 40 |
| 6 | Sector 61 - Educational Services | $94,070 | $84,120 | 40 |
| 7 | Utilities | $90,340 | $90,840 | 240 |
| 8 | Sector 22 - Utilities | $90,340 | $90,840 | 240 |
| 9 | Scientific Research and Development Services | $89,130 | $89,900 | 470 |
| 10 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $89,130 | $89,900 | 470 |
| 11 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $84,490 | $85,350 | 90 |
| 12 | Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $83,200 | $84,680 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do mechanical drafters make in the U.S.?
The median mechanical drafters salary in the United States is $71,550 per year (mean $75,060), and about 80% earn between $48,360 and $106,580.
How much do mechanical drafters make per hour?
Roughly $36 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $75,060 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays mechanical drafters the most?
New Mexico has the highest average pay for mechanical drafters at $98,460 per year (median $89,940).
What is the job outlook for mechanical drafters?
Employment is projected to change -6.5% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 3,300 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.
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