SOC 173013

Mechanical Drafters

Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.

National Median

$68,510

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$68,510

Entry Level (10th pct)

$46,500

Experienced (90th pct)

$107,600

Total Employed

39,900

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$46,500 - $56,470
Mid Career2-8 years experience$56,470 - $85,580
Senior / Expert8+ years experience$85,580 - $107,600

Highest Paying Locations for Mechanical Drafters

Mechanical Drafters Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$111,820250
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$94,180550
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$88,540950
Boulder, CO$86,50070
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$86,23040
Reno, NV$85,23080
New Mexico$85,220120
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area$85,220N/A
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$85,050280
Colorado$85,050480
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$84,79040
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$84,6401,360
Charleston-North Charleston, SC$84,550100
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$84,050260
Idaho Falls, ID$83,96060
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$83,840390
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$83,310150
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$83,25040
Midland, TX$82,88070
Vermont$81,84060
Burlington-South Burlington, VT$81,84040
Albuquerque, NM$81,76050
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$81,710270
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$81,490140
Ann Arbor, MI$81,380N/A
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$81,18030
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX$81,180250
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$81,160450
New Haven, CT$80,58050
Wichita, KS$80,520170
California$80,4303,360
Niles, MI$80,28050
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$80,270600
Arizona$80,270720
Nevada$79,710240
Oregon$79,660470
New Orleans-Metairie, LA$79,56060
New Jersey$79,190780
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$79,060740
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$79,0101,090
Fond du Lac, WI$78,80070
Trenton-Princeton, NJ$78,33060
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$78,280130
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$78,200180
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$78,1901,440
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA$77,95030
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$77,740N/A
Flint, MI$77,44060
Maryland$77,300390
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$77,220640

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Mechanical Drafters?
The national median annual salary for Mechanical Drafters is $68,510, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Mechanical Drafterss earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Mechanical Drafterss is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median salary of $111,820.
How much can an experienced Mechanical Drafters make?
Top-earning Mechanical Drafterss (90th percentile) make $107,600 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.