Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$48,360
- 25th Percentile — Junior$58,080
- 50th Percentile — Median$71,550
- 75th Percentile — Senior$86,120
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$106,580
The top 10% of Mechanical Drafters earn $106,580 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $48,360, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (est.) | $116,343 | +55.0% |
| District of Columbia (est.) | $114,091 | +52.0% |
| Alaska (est.) | $99,079 | +32.0% |
| New Mexico | $98,460 | +31.2% |
| Colorado | $93,270 | +24.3% |
| Washington | $87,150 | +16.1% |
| California | $86,750 | +15.6% |
| Louisiana | $86,680 | +15.5% |
| New Jersey | $86,540 | +15.3% |
| Maryland | $81,200 | +8.2% |
| Oregon | $80,870 | +7.7% |
| Texas | $80,450 | +7.2% |
| New York | $79,250 | +5.6% |
| Massachusetts | $79,060 | +5.3% |
| Nevada | $78,230 | +4.2% |
| North Dakota | $77,950 | +3.9% |
| Vermont | $76,120 | +1.4% |
| Michigan | $75,920 | +1.1% |
| Georgia | $74,150 | -1.2% |
| Minnesota | $73,850 | -1.6% |
| Missouri | $73,680 | -1.8% |
| Utah | $72,730 | -3.1% |
| South Carolina | $72,080 | -4.0% |
| Arizona | $72,030 | -4.0% |
| Virginia | $71,730 | -4.4% |
| Ohio | $71,460 | -4.8% |
| Montana (est.) | $71,307 | -5.0% |
| Illinois | $71,290 | -5.0% |
| Connecticut | $71,180 | -5.2% |
| Kansas | $71,170 | -5.2% |
| Rhode Island | $70,850 | -5.6% |
| West Virginia | $70,340 | -6.3% |
| Pennsylvania | $70,250 | -6.4% |
| Kentucky | $70,230 | -6.4% |
| Florida | $70,180 | -6.5% |
| Maine | $68,780 | -8.4% |
| Tennessee | $68,100 | -9.3% |
| Idaho | $68,050 | -9.3% |
| Wisconsin | $67,960 | -9.5% |
| Iowa | $66,820 | -11.0% |
| Oklahoma | $66,330 | -11.6% |
| Mississippi | $66,140 | -11.9% |
| Wyoming | $65,450 | -12.8% |
| Indiana | $65,210 | -13.1% |
| Nebraska | $64,230 | -14.4% |
| Arkansas | $64,200 | -14.5% |
| North Carolina | $62,030 | -17.4% |
| Delaware | $61,690 | -17.8% |
| New Hampshire | $61,240 | -18.4% |
| Alabama | $61,230 | -18.4% |
| South Dakota | $56,030 | -25.4% |
What Factors Affect Mechanical Drafters Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Mechanical Drafters is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: New Mexico pays an average of $98,460, while South Dakota pays $56,030 — a gap of $42,430 per year.
The middle half of Mechanical Drafters earn between $58,080 and $86,120 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,360, while the top 10% earn more than $106,580.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Mechanical Drafters?
The average salary for Mechanical Drafters in the United States is $75,060 per year, with a median of $71,550.
What is the starting salary for Mechanical Drafters?
Entry-level Mechanical Drafters typically earn between $48,360 and $58,080 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Mechanical Drafters the most?
New Mexico pays Mechanical Drafters the most at $98,460 per year on average, followed by Colorado ($93,270) and Washington ($87,150).
How much do Mechanical Drafters make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $75,060, Mechanical Drafters earn approximately $36.09 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Mechanical Drafters a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 39,960 Mechanical Drafters jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $75,060 and a median of $71,550 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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