Mechanical Drafters Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$56,710
- 25th Percentile — Junior$56,710
- 50th Percentile — Median$63,320
- 75th Percentile — Senior$81,480
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$94,930
Half of Mechanical Drafters in Illinois earn more than $63,320. The top 10% make $94,930 or more, while entry-level workers start around $56,710.
Mechanical Drafters in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 24th of 47 states for Mechanical Drafters pay, at $71,290 per year (5.0% below the U.S. average of $75,060).
- 450 people work as Mechanical Drafters in Illinois — 1.1% of all U.S. Mechanical Drafters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.29: Mechanical Drafters jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $56,710; the top 10% earn over $94,930.
- Hourly equivalent: $34.27 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $98,460.
- Among engineering jobs in Illinois, Nuclear Engineers pays the most ($139,280).
Mechanical Drafters Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Mechanical Drafters here earn $71,290 on average, placing the state 24th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $71,290 is roughly equivalent to $67,895 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, South Carolina ($72,080), Arizona ($72,030), Virginia ($71,730) 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 Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Nuclear Engineers $139,280/yr Illinois +95.4% vs this role
- Computer Hardware Engineers $138,940/yr Illinois +94.9% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $125,610/yr Illinois +76.2% vs this role
- Chemical Engineers $123,570/yr Illinois +73.3% vs this role
- Materials Engineers $122,070/yr Illinois +71.2% vs this role
- Environmental Engineers $116,020/yr Illinois +62.7% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $114,640/yr Illinois +60.8% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $112,600/yr Illinois +57.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mechanical Drafters salary in Illinois?
The average Mechanical Drafters salary in Illinois is $71,290 per year (median $63,320), which is 5.0% below the national average of $75,060.
How does Illinois rank for Mechanical Drafters pay?
Illinois ranks 24th out of 47 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($98,460/yr).
How much do entry-level Mechanical Drafters make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mechanical Drafters in Illinois earn about $56,710 per year and the 25th percentile is $56,710.
How much do Mechanical Drafters make per hour in Illinois?
About $34.27 per hour, based on the $71,290 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mechanical Drafters work in Illinois?
BLS counts 450 Mechanical Drafters jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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