Mechanical Drafters salary
Engineering · OCC code 17-3013 · gross annual wage · BLS OEWS May 2024
Mechanical Drafters in the US earn a median of $68,510 per year (mean $74,040) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey — that is +38.4% versus the $49,500 median for all US jobs, above the US median wage for all jobs. The middle half earn between $56,470 and $85,580; the top 10% earn $107,600 or more. The median hourly wage is $32.94. About 39,900 are employed nationally. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($85,220). Wages are gross (pre-tax) and vary by employer, experience and location.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Mechanical Drafters pay range (national percentiles)
What mechanical drafters earn across the pay distribution, nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2024):
| Pay level | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-paid 10%) | $46,500 |
| 25th percentile | $56,470 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $68,510 |
| Mean (average) | $74,040 |
| 75th percentile | $85,580 |
| 90th percentile (highest-paid 10%) | $107,600 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
A dash (—) means BLS did not release that figure; a plus (+) means the wage is at or above the BLS top code of $239,200/yr. See what wage percentiles mean or check where your salary ranks.
Mechanical Drafters salary by state
Median and mean wage for mechanical drafters in each of the 48 states with published data, highest median first. The national median is $68,510.
| # | State | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $85,220 | $90,600 | 120 |
| 2 | Colorado | $85,050 | $89,150 | 480 |
| 3 | Vermont | $81,840 | $75,980 | 60 |
| 4 | California | $80,430 | $86,550 | 3,360 |
| 5 | Arizona | $80,270 | $74,830 | 720 |
| 6 | Nevada | $79,710 | $82,300 | 240 |
| 7 | Oregon | $79,660 | $83,700 | 470 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $79,190 | $82,830 | 780 |
| 9 | Maryland | $77,300 | $80,710 | 390 |
| 10 | Texas | $76,740 | $82,310 | 3,460 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $76,390 | $76,140 | 90 |
| 12 | Louisiana | $75,230 | $83,470 | 370 |
| 13 | Washington | $75,190 | $85,200 | 1,600 |
| 14 | Michigan | $74,390 | $77,780 | 1,720 |
| 15 | Kansas | $73,800 | $74,460 | 460 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $73,140 | $73,340 | 1,450 |
| 17 | Illinois | $72,530 | $74,800 | 710 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $71,610 | $75,450 | 840 |
| 19 | New York | $69,440 | $74,980 | 2,030 |
| 20 | Utah | $68,520 | $69,970 | 610 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $67,420 | $71,550 | 470 |
| 22 | Missouri | $66,740 | $71,040 | 820 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $66,450 | $74,460 | — |
| 24 | Ohio | $66,290 | $69,790 | 2,130 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $66,280 | $71,440 | 530 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $66,170 | $70,870 | 2,070 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $66,140 | $66,280 | 50 |
| 28 | Iowa | $65,160 | $69,100 | 590 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $65,110 | $70,460 | 510 |
| 30 | Georgia | $65,050 | $72,030 | 590 |
| 31 | Virginia | $64,820 | $66,730 | 540 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $64,180 | $70,820 | 1,250 |
| 33 | Idaho | $63,900 | $65,940 | 250 |
| 34 | Delaware | $63,560 | $63,460 | 150 |
| 35 | Florida | $62,360 | $67,060 | 1,970 |
| 36 | Indiana | $62,240 | $66,680 | 1,590 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $61,990 | $63,300 | 850 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $61,960 | $65,980 | 2,010 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $60,620 | $61,900 | 420 |
| 40 | Maine | $59,960 | $64,490 | 370 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $58,760 | $64,930 | 240 |
| 42 | Montana | $57,590 | $59,470 | 40 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $57,040 | $60,900 | 180 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | $56,460 | $58,160 | — |
| 45 | Wyoming | $52,660 | $58,940 | 60 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $52,620 | $58,710 | 560 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $51,270 | $54,300 | 110 |
| 48 | Alabama | $49,580 | $59,220 | 590 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Highest median: New Mexico ($85,220). Lowest: Alabama ($49,580).
Similar-paying jobs
| Occupation | Median wage | Mean wage | vs US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Drafters (this job) | $68,510 | $74,040 | +38.4% |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $68,090 | $72,030 | +37.6% |
| Public Relations Specialists | $69,780 | $80,310 | +41.0% |
| Flight Attendants | $67,130 | $78,950 | +35.6% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $66,780 | $81,470 | +34.9% |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $66,700 | $82,720 | +34.7% |
Healthcare Social Workers · Public Relations Specialists · Flight Attendants · Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products · Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
Frequently asked questions
How much do mechanical drafters make?
Mechanical Drafters earn a national median of $68,510 per year (mean $74,040) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey. The middle half earn between $56,470 (25th percentile) and $85,580 (75th percentile); the top 10% earn $107,600 or more and the bottom 10% earn under $46,500. These are gross, pre-tax wages.
What is the hourly wage for mechanical drafters?
The median hourly wage is $32.94 and the mean is $35.59 (BLS OEWS, May 2024). BLS reports some occupations only as annual wages, in which case hourly figures are shown as a dash.
Which state pays mechanical drafters the most?
New Mexico has the highest median wage for mechanical drafters at $85,220, versus a national median of $68,510. State pay reflects local cost of living, demand and industry mix. See the full state table on this page.
How many mechanical drafters are there in the US?
BLS estimates about 39,900 mechanical drafters are employed in the US (OEWS, May 2024). Among the 124 occupations tracked here, this job ranks #67 of 124 by median pay.
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Sources & accuracy
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 (OCC 17-3013), gross annual wages, U.S. public domain, retrieved June 2026. OEWS figures are survey estimates and reflect pay before tax. Your actual pay depends on employer, experience, certifications, industry and location. This is information, not financial or career advice — see our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20