Mechanical Drafters Pay Range in Virginia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$47,840
- 25th Percentile — Junior$60,010
- 50th Percentile — Median$69,630
- 75th Percentile — Senior$83,380
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$94,800
Half of Mechanical Drafters in Virginia earn more than $69,630. The top 10% make $94,800 or more, while entry-level workers start around $47,840.
Mechanical Drafters in Virginia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Virginia ranks 22nd of 47 states for Mechanical Drafters pay, at $71,730 per year (4.4% below the U.S. average of $75,060).
- 630 people work as Mechanical Drafters in Virginia — 1.6% of all U.S. Mechanical Drafters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.60: Mechanical Drafters jobs are less concentrated in Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,840; the top 10% earn over $94,800.
- Hourly equivalent: $34.49 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $98,460.
- Among engineering jobs in Virginia, Aerospace Engineers pays the most ($155,770).
Mechanical Drafters Job Market in Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation
Virginia's key industries are Government, Technology, Defense, and its job market is rated very strong. Mechanical Drafters here earn $71,730 on average, placing the state 22nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.1 (U.S. = 1.00), a Virginia salary of $71,730 is roughly equivalent to $65,209 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Missouri ($73,680), Utah ($72,730), South Carolina ($72,080) 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 Virginia
Related career salary benchmarks
- Aerospace Engineers $155,770/yr Virginia +117.2% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $145,830/yr Virginia +103.3% vs this role
- Computer Hardware Engineers $143,280/yr Virginia +99.7% vs this role
- Chemical Engineers $133,340/yr Virginia +85.9% vs this role
- Nuclear Engineers $132,710/yr Virginia +85.0% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $123,830/yr Virginia +72.6% vs this role
- Biomedical Engineers $118,990/yr Virginia +65.9% vs this role
- Materials Engineers $117,660/yr Virginia +64.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mechanical Drafters salary in Virginia?
The average Mechanical Drafters salary in Virginia is $71,730 per year (median $69,630), which is 4.4% below the national average of $75,060.
How does Virginia rank for Mechanical Drafters pay?
Virginia ranks 22nd out of 47 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($98,460/yr).
How much do entry-level Mechanical Drafters make in Virginia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mechanical Drafters in Virginia earn about $47,840 per year and the 25th percentile is $60,010.
How much do Mechanical Drafters make per hour in Virginia?
About $34.49 per hour, based on the $71,730 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mechanical Drafters work in Virginia?
BLS counts 630 Mechanical Drafters jobs in Virginia (OEWS May 2025).
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