Mechanical Drafters Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$41,760
- 25th Percentile — Junior$47,860
- 50th Percentile — Median$52,610
- 75th Percentile — Senior$65,190
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$68,620
Half of Mechanical Drafters in South Dakota earn more than $52,610. The top 10% make $68,620 or more, while entry-level workers start around $41,760.
Mechanical Drafters in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 47th of 47 states for Mechanical Drafters pay, at $56,030 per year (25.4% below the U.S. average of $75,060).
- 100 people work as Mechanical Drafters in South Dakota — 0.3% of all U.S. Mechanical Drafters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.87: Mechanical Drafters jobs are less concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $41,760; the top 10% earn over $68,620.
- Hourly equivalent: $26.94 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $98,460.
- Among engineering jobs in South Dakota, Engineers All Other pays the most ($115,630).
Mechanical Drafters Job Market in South Dakota
Key factors affecting compensation
South Dakota's key industries are Agriculture, Finance, Tourism, and its job market is rated moderate. Mechanical Drafters here earn $56,030 on average, placing the state 47th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Dakota salary of $56,030 is roughly equivalent to $64,402 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, North Carolina ($62,030), Delaware ($61,690), New Hampshire ($61,240) 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 South Dakota
Related career salary benchmarks
- Engineers All Other $115,630/yr South Dakota +106.4% vs this role
- Computer Hardware Engineers $110,880/yr South Dakota +97.9% vs this role
- Architects $105,360/yr South Dakota +88.0% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $102,770/yr South Dakota +83.4% vs this role
- Civil Engineers $99,500/yr South Dakota +77.6% vs this role
- Environmental Engineers $99,360/yr South Dakota +77.3% vs this role
- Industrial Engineers $97,100/yr South Dakota +73.3% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $95,080/yr South Dakota +69.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mechanical Drafters salary in South Dakota?
The average Mechanical Drafters salary in South Dakota is $56,030 per year (median $52,610), which is 25.4% below the national average of $75,060.
How does South Dakota rank for Mechanical Drafters pay?
South Dakota ranks 47th out of 47 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($98,460/yr).
How much do entry-level Mechanical Drafters make in South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mechanical Drafters in South Dakota earn about $41,760 per year and the 25th percentile is $47,860.
How much do Mechanical Drafters make per hour in South Dakota?
About $26.94 per hour, based on the $56,030 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mechanical Drafters work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 100 Mechanical Drafters jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
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