Mechanical Drafters Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$50,200
- 25th Percentile — Junior$65,900
- 50th Percentile — Median$82,510
- 75th Percentile — Senior$102,860
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$128,160
Half of Mechanical Drafters in California earn more than $82,510. The top 10% make $128,160 or more, while entry-level workers start around $50,200.
Mechanical Drafters in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 4th of 47 states for Mechanical Drafters pay, at $86,750 per year (15.6% above the U.S. average of $75,060).
- 3,640 people work as Mechanical Drafters in California — 9.1% of all U.S. Mechanical Drafters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.78: Mechanical Drafters jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,200; the top 10% earn over $128,160.
- Hourly equivalent: $41.71 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $98,460.
- Among engineering jobs in California, Computer Hardware Engineers pays the most ($190,590).
Mechanical Drafters Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Mechanical Drafters here earn $86,750 on average, placing the state 4th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $86,750 is roughly equivalent to $61,092 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Mexico ($98,460), Colorado ($93,270), Washington ($87,150) are the closest alternatives for Mechanical Drafters weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Engineering Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Computer Hardware Engineers $190,590/yr California +119.7% vs this role
- Nuclear Engineers $160,980/yr California +85.6% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $159,960/yr California +84.4% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $151,180/yr California +74.3% vs this role
- Petroleum Engineers $147,940/yr California +70.5% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $139,670/yr California +61.0% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $136,660/yr California +57.5% vs this role
- Biomedical Engineers $132,400/yr California +52.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mechanical Drafters salary in California?
The average Mechanical Drafters salary in California is $86,750 per year (median $82,510), which is 15.6% above the national average of $75,060.
How does California rank for Mechanical Drafters pay?
California ranks 4th out of 47 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($98,460/yr).
How much do entry-level Mechanical Drafters make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mechanical Drafters in California earn about $50,200 per year and the 25th percentile is $65,900.
How much do Mechanical Drafters make per hour in California?
About $41.71 per hour, based on the $86,750 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mechanical Drafters work in California?
BLS counts 3,640 Mechanical Drafters jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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