17 Series · SOC 17-3012
Electrical and Electronics Drafters Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $76,870
- Median / year
- $120,290
- Top 10% earn
- -5.6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 17,920
- US workers
Electrical and Electronics Drafters earn a median of $76,870 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $76,870, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $50,040 (10th percentile) to $120,290 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 17,920 US workers. New Hampshire pays the most ($102,070), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Electrical and Electronics Drafters earn a median of $76,870, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 69% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #25 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 5.6% by 2033.
- $76,870
- Median annual wage
- Top 31%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #25 of 36
- in Architecture and Engineering
- 2.4×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New Hampshire at $102,070. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Electrical and Electronics Drafters (SOC 17-3012) pays a national median of $76,870 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $50,040 at the 10th percentile to $120,290 at the 90th, with a mean of $81,280 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 17,920 Americans work in this occupation across 44 reporting states and 98 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -5.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 2 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New Hampshire pays the highest state median at $102,070, which is +33% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $115,530 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$76,870
per year
Median Hourly
$36.96/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$81,280
average
Employment
17,920
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Electrical and Electronics Drafters pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$76,870 Top 31% higher than 69% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 17-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Electrical and Electronics Drafters; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Electrical and Electronics Drafters sits on the slower-growing side at -5.6% growth and $76,870 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-5.6%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
2/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Electrical and Electronics Drafters roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Draft detail and assembly drawings of design components, circuitry or printed circuit boards, using computer-assisted equipment or standard drafting techniques and devices.
- ▸ Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications, or cross-sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew.
- ▸ Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets to be checked by an engineer or an architect.
- ▸ Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations.
- ▸ Consult with engineers to discuss or interpret design concepts, or determine requirements of detailed working drawings.
- ▸ Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
- ▸ Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as distances to be spanned by wire and cable.
- ▸ Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
- ▸ Draw master sketches to scale showing relation of proposed installations to existing facilities and exact specifications and dimensions.
- ▸ Review work orders or procedural manuals and confer with vendors or design staff to resolve problems or modify design.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$50,040
25th Percentile
$61,430
Median
$76,870
75th Percentile
$96,730
90th Percentile
$120,290
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 44 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $102,070 | +33% above national |
| 2 | New Mexico | $101,330 | +32% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $87,290 | +14% above national |
| 4 | North Carolina | $81,960 | +7% above national |
| 5 | Idaho | $81,590 | +6% above national |
| 6 | Ohio | $80,840 | +5% above national |
| 7 | Georgia | $80,620 | +5% above national |
| 8 | Texas | $80,620 | +5% above national |
| 9 | Indiana | $80,100 | +4% above national |
| 10 | Utah | $79,360 | +3% above national |
| 11 | Colorado | $79,300 | +3% above national |
| 12 | Kentucky | $79,050 | +3% above national |
| 13 | California | $78,310 | +2% above national |
| 14 | Oregon | $78,170 | +2% above national |
| 15 | New York | $77,830 | +1% above national |
| 16 | New Jersey | $77,600 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Minnesota | $77,330 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Tennessee | $77,180 | same as national |
| 19 | Missouri | $76,690 | same as national |
| 20 | South Carolina | $76,440 | 1% below national |
| 21 | Maryland | $75,680 | 2% below national |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $75,650 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Maine | $75,100 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Iowa | $74,470 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Michigan | $73,860 | 4% below national |
| 26 | Arizona | $73,080 | 5% below national |
| 27 | Florida | $73,010 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $72,720 | 5% below national |
| 29 | Washington | $72,250 | 6% below national |
| 30 | Nevada | $71,310 | 7% below national |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $69,520 | 10% below national |
| 32 | Illinois | $68,310 | 11% below national |
| 33 | Hawaii | $68,050 | 11% below national |
| 34 | Connecticut | $66,980 | 13% below national |
| 35 | Wyoming | $64,690 | 16% below national |
| 36 | Virginia | $64,650 | 16% below national |
| 37 | Delaware | $63,460 | 17% below national |
| 38 | Louisiana | $62,550 | 19% below national |
| 39 | Kansas | $60,730 | 21% below national |
| 40 | Nebraska | $59,570 | 23% below national |
| 41 | Mississippi | $58,780 | 24% below national |
| 42 | Puerto Rico | $56,480 | 27% below national |
| 43 | Alabama | $51,650 | 33% below national |
| 44 | South Dakota | $50,840 | 34% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 98 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $115,530 | +50% above national |
| 2 | Boulder, CO | $103,910 | +35% above national |
| 3 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $102,810 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $100,420 | +31% above national |
| 5 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $100,090 | +30% above national |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $98,920 | +29% above national |
| 7 | Worcester, MA | $98,610 | +28% above national |
| 8 | Boise City, ID | $97,550 | +27% above national |
| 9 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $90,360 | +18% above national |
| 10 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $87,010 | +13% above national |
| 11 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $86,140 | +12% above national |
| 12 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $84,680 | +10% above national |
| 13 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,680 | +10% above national |
| 14 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $84,090 | +9% above national |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $83,700 | +9% above national |
| 16 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $83,100 | +8% above national |
| 17 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $82,400 | +7% above national |
| 18 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $82,320 | +7% above national |
| 19 | Tucson, AZ | $81,970 | +7% above national |
| 20 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $81,960 | +7% above national |
| 21 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $81,230 | +6% above national |
| 22 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $80,490 | +5% above national |
| 23 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $80,100 | +4% above national |
| 24 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $79,990 | +4% above national |
| 25 | Rochester, NY | $79,910 | +4% above national |
| 26 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $79,830 | +4% above national |
| 27 | Fargo, ND-MN | $79,710 | +4% above national |
| 28 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $79,580 | +4% above national |
| 29 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $79,530 | +3% above national |
| 30 | Madison, WI | $79,220 | +3% above national |
| 31 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $79,160 | +3% above national |
| 32 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $78,900 | +3% above national |
| 33 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $78,530 | +2% above national |
| 34 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $78,450 | +2% above national |
| 35 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $78,350 | +2% above national |
| 36 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $78,170 | +2% above national |
| 37 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $78,170 | +2% above national |
| 38 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $77,830 | +1% above national |
| 39 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $77,810 | +1% above national |
| 40 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,630 | +1% above national |
| 41 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $77,150 | same as national |
| 42 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $77,120 | same as national |
| 43 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $77,100 | same as national |
| 44 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,950 | same as national |
| 45 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $76,610 | same as national |
| 46 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,580 | same as national |
| 47 | Oklahoma City, OK | $76,560 | same as national |
| 48 | Colorado Springs, CO | $76,380 | 1% below national |
| 49 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $75,960 | 1% below national |
| 50 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $75,940 | 1% below national |
| 51 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $75,870 | 1% below national |
| 52 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $75,870 | 1% below national |
| 53 | Jacksonville, FL | $75,780 | 1% below national |
| 54 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $75,030 | 2% below national |
| 55 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $75,000 | 2% below national |
| 56 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $74,880 | 3% below national |
| 57 | Syracuse, NY | $74,720 | 3% below national |
| 58 | Green Bay, WI | $74,690 | 3% below national |
| 59 | Columbia, SC | $74,590 | 3% below national |
| 60 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $74,520 | 3% below national |
| 61 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $74,470 | 3% below national |
| 62 | Knoxville, TN | $74,390 | 3% below national |
| 63 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $74,000 | 4% below national |
| 64 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $73,530 | 4% below national |
| 65 | Springfield, MO | $73,360 | 5% below national |
| 66 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $72,930 | 5% below national |
| 67 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $72,720 | 5% below national |
| 68 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $70,940 | 8% below national |
| 69 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $70,880 | 8% below national |
| 70 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $70,720 | 8% below national |
| 71 | Tulsa, OK | $70,590 | 8% below national |
| 72 | Visalia, CA | $70,400 | 8% below national |
| 73 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $70,170 | 9% below national |
| 74 | Joplin, MO-KS | $70,010 | 9% below national |
| 75 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $69,500 | 10% below national |
| 76 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $68,710 | 11% below national |
| 77 | Fresno, CA | $68,640 | 11% below national |
| 78 | Reno, NV | $68,480 | 11% below national |
| 79 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $67,670 | 12% below national |
| 80 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $67,100 | 13% below national |
| 81 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $66,910 | 13% below national |
| 82 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $66,750 | 13% below national |
| 83 | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,880 | 14% below national |
| 84 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $65,020 | 15% below national |
| 85 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $64,930 | 16% below national |
| 86 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $64,030 | 17% below national |
| 87 | Baton Rouge, LA | $63,020 | 18% below national |
| 88 | Cleveland, OH | $62,710 | 18% below national |
| 89 | Richmond, VA | $62,100 | 19% below national |
| 90 | New Haven, CT | $61,690 | 20% below national |
| 91 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $61,300 | 20% below national |
| 92 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $58,230 | 24% below national |
| 93 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $57,860 | 25% below national |
| 94 | Wichita, KS | $57,650 | 25% below national |
| 95 | Omaha, NE-IA | $56,180 | 27% below national |
| 96 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $55,110 | 28% below national |
| 97 | Birmingham, AL | $53,490 | 30% below national |
| 98 | Huntsville, AL | $53,070 | 31% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 17 (architecture and engineering) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Electrical and Electronics Drafters make? ▼
What state pays Electrical and Electronics Drafters the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Electrical and Electronics Drafters? ▼
How dangerous is being a Electrical and Electronics Drafters? ▼
Is Electrical and Electronics Drafters a good career? ▼
How does Electrical and Electronics Drafters pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Electrical and Electronics Drafters? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Electrical and Electronics Drafters pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $96,730/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New Hampshire leads at $102,070/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.