17 Series · SOC 17-3013
Mechanical 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).
- $71,550
- Median / year
- $106,580
- Top 10% earn
- -6.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 39,960
- US workers
Mechanical Drafters earn a median of $71,550 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $71,550, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $48,360 (10th percentile) to $106,580 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 39,960 US workers. New Mexico pays the most ($89,940), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Mechanical Drafters earn a median of $71,550, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 63% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #29 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 6.5% by 2033.
- $71,550
- Median annual wage
- Top 37%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #29 of 36
- in Architecture and Engineering
- 2.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New Mexico at $89,940. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Mechanical Drafters (SOC 17-3013) pays a national median of $71,550 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $48,360 at the 10th percentile to $106,580 at the 90th, with a mean of $75,060 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 39,960 Americans work in this occupation across 48 reporting states and 235 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -6.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 3,300 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 Mexico pays the highest state median at $89,940, which is +26% above the national figure. The top metro is Boulder, CO at $102,710 - 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
$71,550
per year
Median Hourly
$34.40/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$75,060
average
Employment
39,960
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Mechanical Drafters pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$71,550 Top 37% higher than 63% 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 Mechanical Drafters; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 17-series occupations with growth data, Mechanical Drafters sits on the slower-growing side at -6.5% growth and $71,550 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-6.5%
Declining
Annual Openings
3,300
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 Mechanical Drafters roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.
- ▸ Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- ▸ Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
- ▸ Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
- ▸ Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
- ▸ Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials.
- ▸ Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components.
- ▸ Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment.
- ▸ Coordinate with and consult other workers to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems.
- ▸ Confer with customer representatives to review schematics and answer questions pertaining to installation of systems.
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
$48,360
25th Percentile
$58,080
Median
$71,550
75th Percentile
$86,120
90th Percentile
$106,580
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 48 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $89,940 | +26% above national |
| 2 | Colorado | $85,280 | +19% above national |
| 3 | New Jersey | $83,380 | +17% above national |
| 4 | California | $82,510 | +15% above national |
| 5 | Texas | $79,380 | +11% above national |
| 6 | Louisiana | $77,730 | +9% above national |
| 7 | North Dakota | $77,570 | +8% above national |
| 8 | Washington | $76,820 | +7% above national |
| 9 | Maryland | $76,740 | +7% above national |
| 10 | New York | $76,490 | +7% above national |
| 11 | Maine | $76,360 | +7% above national |
| 12 | Nevada | $75,830 | +6% above national |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $75,490 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Oregon | $74,000 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Minnesota | $73,090 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Vermont | $73,040 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Michigan | $72,280 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Ohio | $70,580 | 1% below national |
| 19 | Utah | $70,000 | 2% below national |
| 20 | Virginia | $69,630 | 3% below national |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $69,290 | 3% below national |
| 22 | Kentucky | $68,880 | 4% below national |
| 23 | Connecticut | $68,830 | 4% below national |
| 24 | Florida | $68,050 | 5% below national |
| 25 | Arizona | $67,410 | 6% below national |
| 26 | Georgia | $66,670 | 7% below national |
| 27 | Missouri | $66,350 | 7% below national |
| 28 | Kansas | $65,250 | 9% below national |
| 29 | West Virginia | $65,100 | 9% below national |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $63,770 | 11% below national |
| 31 | South Carolina | $63,740 | 11% below national |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $63,480 | 11% below national |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $63,440 | 11% below national |
| 34 | Tennessee | $63,390 | 11% below national |
| 35 | Iowa | $63,330 | 11% below national |
| 36 | Illinois | $63,320 | 12% below national |
| 37 | Indiana | $62,820 | 12% below national |
| 38 | Nebraska | $61,170 | 15% below national |
| 39 | Wyoming | $61,070 | 15% below national |
| 40 | Mississippi | $60,460 | 15% below national |
| 41 | Arkansas | $59,960 | 16% below national |
| 42 | Idaho | $59,050 | 17% below national |
| 43 | North Carolina | $59,050 | 17% below national |
| 44 | Delaware | $57,110 | 20% below national |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $55,390 | 23% below national |
| 46 | Alabama | $53,600 | 25% below national |
| 47 | Puerto Rico | $53,470 | 25% below national |
| 48 | South Dakota | $52,610 | 26% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 235 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder, CO | $102,710 | +44% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,310 | +37% above national |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,450 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $94,470 | +32% above national |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $94,140 | +32% above national |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $90,160 | +26% above national |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $87,860 | +23% above national |
| 8 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $87,220 | +22% above national |
| 9 | Idaho Falls, ID | $86,420 | +21% above national |
| 10 | Midland, TX | $86,100 | +20% above national |
| 11 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $84,100 | +18% above national |
| 12 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $84,070 | +17% above national |
| 13 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,550 | +17% above national |
| 14 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $83,200 | +16% above national |
| 15 | Niles, MI | $82,960 | +16% above national |
| 16 | Wichita, KS | $82,590 | +15% above national |
| 17 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $80,970 | +13% above national |
| 18 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,780 | +13% above national |
| 19 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $80,550 | +13% above national |
| 20 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $80,510 | +13% above national |
| 21 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $79,380 | +11% above national |
| 22 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $79,180 | +11% above national |
| 23 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $79,130 | +11% above national |
| 24 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $78,990 | +10% above national |
| 25 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $78,820 | +10% above national |
| 26 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $78,790 | +10% above national |
| 27 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $78,640 | +10% above national |
| 28 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $78,350 | +10% above national |
| 29 | Huntsville, AL | $78,250 | +9% above national |
| 30 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,210 | +9% above national |
| 31 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $78,110 | +9% above national |
| 32 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77,790 | +9% above national |
| 33 | Baton Rouge, LA | $77,720 | +9% above national |
| 34 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $77,670 | +9% above national |
| 35 | Fargo, ND-MN | $77,520 | +8% above national |
| 36 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $77,500 | +8% above national |
| 37 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $77,250 | +8% above national |
| 38 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $77,160 | +8% above national |
| 39 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $76,600 | +7% above national |
| 40 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,520 | +7% above national |
| 41 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $76,490 | +7% above national |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $76,480 | +7% above national |
| 43 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $76,360 | +7% above national |
| 44 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $76,340 | +7% above national |
| 45 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $76,170 | +6% above national |
| 46 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $75,830 | +6% above national |
| 47 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $75,770 | +6% above national |
| 48 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $75,610 | +6% above national |
| 49 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $75,560 | +6% above national |
| 50 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $75,510 | +6% above national |
| 51 | Syracuse, NY | $75,510 | +6% above national |
| 52 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $75,360 | +5% above national |
| 53 | Fond du Lac, WI | $75,240 | +5% above national |
| 54 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $75,160 | +5% above national |
| 55 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $75,050 | +5% above national |
| 56 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $74,490 | +4% above national |
| 57 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $74,430 | +4% above national |
| 58 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $74,100 | +4% above national |
| 59 | Omaha, NE-IA | $73,790 | +3% above national |
| 60 | Bellingham, WA | $73,680 | +3% above national |
| 61 | Sheboygan, WI | $73,440 | +3% above national |
| 62 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $73,230 | +2% above national |
| 63 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $73,030 | +2% above national |
| 64 | New Haven, CT | $72,970 | +2% above national |
| 65 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $72,940 | +2% above national |
| 66 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $72,540 | +1% above national |
| 67 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $72,510 | +1% above national |
| 68 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $72,500 | +1% above national |
| 69 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $72,170 | +1% above national |
| 70 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $71,920 | +1% above national |
| 71 | Ogden, UT | $71,860 | same as national |
| 72 | Longview, TX | $71,790 | same as national |
| 73 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $71,520 | same as national |
| 74 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $70,860 | 1% below national |
| 75 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $70,830 | 1% below national |
| 76 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $70,250 | 2% below national |
| 77 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $69,990 | 2% below national |
| 78 | Fresno, CA | $69,850 | 2% below national |
| 79 | Reading, PA | $69,840 | 2% below national |
| 80 | Rochester, NY | $69,750 | 3% below national |
| 81 | Richmond, VA | $69,630 | 3% below national |
| 82 | Pittsburgh, PA | $69,550 | 3% below national |
| 83 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $69,370 | 3% below national |
| 84 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $69,240 | 3% below national |
| 85 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $69,150 | 3% below national |
| 86 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $68,960 | 4% below national |
| 87 | Jacksonville, FL | $68,880 | 4% below national |
| 88 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $68,830 | 4% below national |
| 89 | Jackson, MI | $68,760 | 4% below national |
| 90 | Tulsa, OK | $68,640 | 4% below national |
| 91 | Ann Arbor, MI | $67,980 | 5% below national |
| 92 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $67,850 | 5% below national |
| 93 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $67,750 | 5% below national |
| 94 | Elizabethtown, KY | $67,660 | 5% below national |
| 95 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $67,600 | 6% below national |
| 96 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $67,490 | 6% below national |
| 97 | Springfield, MA | $67,470 | 6% below national |
| 98 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $67,380 | 6% below national |
| 99 | Mankato, MN | $67,250 | 6% below national |
| 100 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $67,190 | 6% below national |
| 101 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $67,150 | 6% below national |
| 102 | Worcester, MA | $66,980 | 6% below national |
| 103 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $66,710 | 7% below national |
| 104 | Roanoke, VA | $66,560 | 7% below national |
| 105 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $66,170 | 8% below national |
| 106 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $66,090 | 8% below national |
| 107 | Modesto, CA | $66,060 | 8% below national |
| 108 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $66,020 | 8% below national |
| 109 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $65,840 | 8% below national |
| 110 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $65,460 | 9% below national |
| 111 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $65,450 | 9% below national |
| 112 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $65,170 | 9% below national |
| 113 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $65,150 | 9% below national |
| 114 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $65,150 | 9% below national |
| 115 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $65,040 | 9% below national |
| 116 | Madison, WI | $64,990 | 9% below national |
| 117 | Fort Wayne, IN | $64,820 | 9% below national |
| 118 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $64,780 | 9% below national |
| 119 | Cleveland, OH | $64,770 | 9% below national |
| 120 | Knoxville, TN | $64,730 | 10% below national |
| 121 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $64,600 | 10% below national |
| 122 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $64,510 | 10% below national |
| 123 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $64,470 | 10% below national |
| 124 | Springfield, MO | $64,330 | 10% below national |
| 125 | Appleton, WI | $64,320 | 10% below national |
| 126 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $64,110 | 10% below national |
| 127 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $64,050 | 10% below national |
| 128 | St. Cloud, MN | $64,000 | 11% below national |
| 129 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $64,000 | 11% below national |
| 130 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $63,980 | 11% below national |
| 131 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $63,910 | 11% below national |
| 132 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $63,790 | 11% below national |
| 133 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $63,750 | 11% below national |
| 134 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $63,730 | 11% below national |
| 135 | Toledo, OH | $63,720 | 11% below national |
| 136 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $63,680 | 11% below national |
| 137 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $63,580 | 11% below national |
| 138 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $63,550 | 11% below national |
| 139 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $63,470 | 11% below national |
| 140 | Oklahoma City, OK | $63,450 | 11% below national |
| 141 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $63,440 | 11% below national |
| 142 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $63,430 | 11% below national |
| 143 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $63,400 | 11% below national |
| 144 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $63,330 | 11% below national |
| 145 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $63,240 | 12% below national |
| 146 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $63,230 | 12% below national |
| 147 | Reno, NV | $63,180 | 12% below national |
| 148 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $63,140 | 12% below national |
| 149 | Akron, OH | $63,030 | 12% below national |
| 150 | Utica-Rome, NY | $62,910 | 12% below national |
| 151 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $62,890 | 12% below national |
| 152 | York-Hanover, PA | $62,730 | 12% below national |
| 153 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $62,610 | 12% below national |
| 154 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $62,550 | 13% below national |
| 155 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $62,420 | 13% below national |
| 156 | Tucson, AZ | $62,140 | 13% below national |
| 157 | Salem, OR | $61,850 | 14% below national |
| 158 | Kenosha, WI | $61,800 | 14% below national |
| 159 | Columbus, IN | $61,730 | 14% below national |
| 160 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $61,670 | 14% below national |
| 161 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $61,610 | 14% below national |
| 162 | Green Bay, WI | $61,590 | 14% below national |
| 163 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $61,560 | 14% below national |
| 164 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $61,330 | 14% below national |
| 165 | Columbia, SC | $61,300 | 14% below national |
| 166 | Eau Claire, WI | $61,290 | 14% below national |
| 167 | Duluth, MN-WI | $61,270 | 14% below national |
| 168 | Lancaster, PA | $61,270 | 14% below national |
| 169 | Lafayette, LA | $61,240 | 14% below national |
| 170 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,220 | 14% below national |
| 171 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $61,060 | 15% below national |
| 172 | Lynchburg, VA | $60,930 | 15% below national |
| 173 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $60,760 | 15% below national |
| 174 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $60,680 | 15% below national |
| 175 | Jefferson City, MO | $60,550 | 15% below national |
| 176 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $60,330 | 16% below national |
| 177 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $60,260 | 16% below national |
| 178 | Glens Falls, NY | $60,130 | 16% below national |
| 179 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $59,940 | 16% below national |
| 180 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $59,850 | 16% below national |
| 181 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $59,720 | 17% below national |
| 182 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $59,690 | 17% below national |
| 183 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,660 | 17% below national |
| 184 | Chambersburg, PA | $59,550 | 17% below national |
| 185 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $59,510 | 17% below national |
| 186 | Florence, SC | $59,320 | 17% below national |
| 187 | Asheville, NC | $59,270 | 17% below national |
| 188 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $59,270 | 17% below national |
| 189 | Birmingham, AL | $59,260 | 17% below national |
| 190 | Lincoln, NE | $59,190 | 17% below national |
| 191 | Ocala, FL | $59,140 | 17% below national |
| 192 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $59,020 | 18% below national |
| 193 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $58,970 | 18% below national |
| 194 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $58,900 | 18% below national |
| 195 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $58,880 | 18% below national |
| 196 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $58,650 | 18% below national |
| 197 | Amarillo, TX | $58,580 | 18% below national |
| 198 | Winston-Salem, NC | $58,560 | 18% below national |
| 199 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $58,090 | 19% below national |
| 200 | Erie, PA | $57,970 | 19% below national |
| 201 | Wausau, WI | $57,920 | 19% below national |
| 202 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $57,820 | 19% below national |
| 203 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $57,740 | 19% below national |
| 204 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $57,550 | 20% below national |
| 205 | Dubuque, IA | $57,440 | 20% below national |
| 206 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $57,430 | 20% below national |
| 207 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $57,420 | 20% below national |
| 208 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $57,420 | 20% below national |
| 209 | Evansville, IN | $57,060 | 20% below national |
| 210 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $56,990 | 20% below national |
| 211 | Boise City, ID | $56,860 | 21% below national |
| 212 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $56,800 | 21% below national |
| 213 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $55,970 | 22% below national |
| 214 | Yakima, WA | $55,510 | 22% below national |
| 215 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $55,290 | 23% below national |
| 216 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $55,160 | 23% below national |
| 217 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $54,300 | 24% below national |
| 218 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $53,630 | 25% below national |
| 219 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $52,180 | 27% below national |
| 220 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $51,510 | 28% below national |
| 221 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $51,080 | 29% below national |
| 222 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $51,030 | 29% below national |
| 223 | Montgomery, AL | $50,420 | 30% below national |
| 224 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $50,280 | 30% below national |
| 225 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $50,260 | 30% below national |
| 226 | Wilmington, NC | $50,150 | 30% below national |
| 227 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $49,270 | 31% below national |
| 228 | Mobile, AL | $49,210 | 31% below national |
| 229 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $47,570 | 34% below national |
| 230 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $47,400 | 34% below national |
| 231 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $47,300 | 34% below national |
| 232 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $47,020 | 34% below national |
| 233 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $45,160 | 37% below national |
| 234 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $43,680 | 39% below national |
| 235 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $41,970 | 41% below national |
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Other roles in SOC major group 17 (architecture and engineering) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Mechanical Drafters pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $86,120/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 Mexico leads at $89,940/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.