Mechanical Drafters Salary
The median mechanical drafters salary in the United States is $71,550 per year ($34.40/hour). Salaries range from $48,360 at the entry level to $106,580+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 39,960 mechanical drafters jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 6.5% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$71,550
per year
Hourly Rate
$34.40
per hour
Employment
39,960
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$48,360
25th percentile
$58,080
Median
$71,550
75th percentile
$86,120
90th percentile
$106,580
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-6.5%
Decline
Annual Openings
3,300
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Associate's degree
Mechanical Drafters Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$53K$90K■ No data
Top Paying States
New Mexico
$90K
+26%
Colorado
$85K
+19%
New Jersey
$83K
+17%
California
$83K
+15%
Texas
$79K
+11%
Louisiana
$78K
+9%
North Dakota
$78K
+8%
Washington
$77K
+7%
Maryland
$77K
+7%
New York
$76K
+7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $89,940 | +25.7% |
| Colorado | $85,280 | +19.2% |
| New Jersey | $83,380 | +16.5% |
| California | $82,510 | +15.3% |
| Texas | $79,380 | +10.9% |
| Louisiana | $77,730 | +8.6% |
| North Dakota | $77,570 | +8.4% |
| Washington | $76,820 | +7.4% |
| Maryland | $76,740 | +7.3% |
| New York | $76,490 | +6.9% |
Showing 1–10 of 47
Mechanical Drafters Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $102,710 | +43.5% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,310 | +37.4% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,450 | +36.2% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $94,470 | +32.0% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $94,140 | +31.6% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $90,160 | +26.0% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $87,860 | +22.8% |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $87,220 | +21.9% |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $86,420 | +20.8% |
| Midland, TX | $86,100 | +20.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 181
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A mechanical drafters earning $71,550/year would need 833 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 894 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how mechanical drafters salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Mechanical Drafters salary trend (2011–2024) →