Average Salary for Mechanical Drafters
SOC 17-3013 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in the United States is $68,510 ($32.94/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $46,500 at the 10th percentile to $107,600 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 39,900 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 31.2% since 2014.
Median Annual
$68,510
Mean Annual
$74,040
10th Pct
$46,500
75th Pct
$85,580
Employment
39,900
Salary Distribution
$47k
10th
$56k
25th
$69k
Median
$86k
75th
$108k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $111,820 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $94,180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $88,540 |
| Boulder, CO | $86,500 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $86,230 |
| Reno, NV | $85,230 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $85,050 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $84,790 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $84,640 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $84,550 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $84,050 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $83,960 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,840 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $83,310 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $83,250 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $85,220 |
| Colorado | $85,050 |
| Vermont | $81,840 |
| California | $80,430 |
| Arizona | $80,270 |
| Nevada | $79,710 |
| Oregon | $79,660 |
| New Jersey | $79,190 |
| Maryland | $77,300 |
| Texas | $76,740 |
| Rhode Island | $76,390 |
| Louisiana | $75,230 |
| Washington | $75,190 |
| Michigan | $74,390 |
| Kansas | $73,800 |
| Minnesota | $73,140 |
| Illinois | $72,530 |
| Massachusetts | $71,610 |
| New York | $69,440 |
| Utah | $68,520 |
| Connecticut | $67,420 |
| Missouri | $66,740 |
| South Carolina | $66,450 |
| Ohio | $66,290 |
| Oklahoma | $66,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,170 |
| North Dakota | $66,140 |
| Iowa | $65,160 |
| Kentucky | $65,110 |
| Georgia | $65,050 |
| Virginia | $64,820 |
| Tennessee | $64,180 |
| Idaho | $63,900 |
| Delaware | $63,560 |
| Florida | $62,360 |
| Indiana | $62,240 |
| North Carolina | $61,990 |
| Wisconsin | $61,960 |
| Arkansas | $60,620 |
| Maine | $59,960 |
| Mississippi | $58,760 |
| Montana | $57,590 |
| West Virginia | $57,040 |
| New Hampshire | $56,460 |
| Wyoming | $52,660 |
| Nebraska | $52,620 |
| South Dakota | $51,270 |
| Alabama | $49,580 |
| Puerto Rico | $49,310 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Mechanical Drafters broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $107,310 |
| Educational Services | $101,700 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | $99,310 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $97,640 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $88,590 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $86,180 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $86,180 |
| Utilities | $86,040 |
| Utilities | $86,040 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $86,040 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $82,060 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $82,060 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $81,860 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $80,970 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $80,850 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $80,560 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $80,560 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $80,270 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $79,890 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $79,110 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $79,050 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $78,930 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $78,360 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $78,250 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $78,250 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $78,250 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $78,210 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $77,860 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $77,520 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $77,520 |
| Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $77,070 |
| Residential Building Construction | $77,060 |
| Information | $76,510 |
| Engineering Services | $76,460 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $76,350 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $76,210 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $75,350 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $75,320 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $74,820 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $74,820 |
| Temporary Help Services | $74,590 |
| Employment Services | $74,580 |
| Construction | $74,560 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $74,510 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $74,510 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $74,080 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $73,500 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $73,270 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $72,530 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | $72,110 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | $72,020 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $71,960 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $71,740 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | $71,690 |
| Educational Services | $70,770 |
| Construction of Buildings | $70,480 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $70,390 |
| Food Manufacturing | $70,030 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $69,980 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $69,980 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $69,400 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $69,400 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $69,400 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors | $69,090 |
| Wholesale Trade | $68,510 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | $68,500 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $68,480 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $68,050 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $67,640 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $67,420 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $66,890 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $66,890 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | $66,260 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $66,150 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $66,140 |
| Manufacturing | $65,520 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $65,510 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $65,080 |
| Other Support Services | $64,990 |
| Foundries | $64,980 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $64,820 |
| Machine Shops | $64,760 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $64,710 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $64,430 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $64,390 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $64,220 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $64,090 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $63,640 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | $63,600 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $63,460 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $63,070 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $63,000 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $63,000 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $62,900 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $62,720 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $62,640 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $62,640 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $62,620 |
| Retail Trade | $62,540 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $62,540 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $62,540 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $62,240 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $62,130 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $61,930 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | $61,810 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | $61,210 |
| Investigation and Security Services | $61,150 |
| Security Systems Services | $61,150 |
| Specialized Design Services | $60,720 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $60,710 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $60,640 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $60,460 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | $60,110 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | $59,350 |
| Utility System Construction | $59,350 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $59,330 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | $58,340 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $58,160 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | $57,960 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $57,730 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | $57,620 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | $56,780 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $56,240 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $53,890 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $51,220 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $50,810 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $49,000 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $47,580 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $68,510 |
| 2023 | $64,060 |
| 2022 | $61,310 |
| 2021 | $60,200 |
| 2020 | $58,270 |
| 2019 | $57,060 |
| 2018 | $55,920 |
| 2017 | $55,130 |
| 2016 | $54,480 |
| 2015 | $53,520 |
| 2014 | $52,200 |