Mechanical Drafters Salary
Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 40K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$71,550
Median hourly
$34
Average annual
$75,060
Typical range
$48,360–$106,580
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Mechanical Drafters is $71,550 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $34 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information..
Most earn between $48,360 and $106,580 a year. There are roughly 40K people employed as mechanical drafters in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Mechanical Drafters.
- Hourly
- $34.40
- Daily
- $275
- Weekly
- $1,376
- Bi-weekly
- $2,752
- Monthly
- $5,963
- Annual
- $71,550
$71,550 a year is around the 50th percentile for Mechanical Drafterss. The median is $71,550.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1New Mexico$89,940
- 2Colorado$85,280
- 3New Jersey$83,380
- 4California$82,510
- 5Texas$79,380
- 6Louisiana$77,730
- 7North Dakota$77,570
- 8Washington$76,820
- 9Maryland$76,740
- 10New York$76,490
- 11Maine$76,360
- 12Nevada$75,830
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Boulder, CO$102,710
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$98,310
- 3San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$97,450
- 4Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$94,470
- 5Albuquerque, NM$94,140
- 6Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$90,160
- 7Colorado Springs, CO$87,860
- 8Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX$87,220
- 9Idaho Falls, ID$86,420
- 10Midland, TX$86,100
- 11Burlington-South Burlington, VT$84,100
- 12New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$84,070
Related job titles
Employers advertise Mechanical Drafters roles under these titles.
- Aeronautical Drafter
- Auto Design Detailer
- Auto Design Drafter (Automotive Design Drafter)
- AutoCAD Technician
- Body Design Checker
- Body Designer
- CAD Operator (Computer Aided Design Operator)
- CAM Specialist (Computer Aided Manufacturing Specialist)
- Castings Drafter
- Controls Designer
- Design Checker
- Design Drafter
- Detail Drafter
- Furniture Detailer
- Gage Designer
- Installation Drafter
Related occupations
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters$76,870
- Architectural and Civil Drafters$66,150
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,510
- Commercial and Industrial Designers$83,910
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic$63,870
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic$63,340
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$68,120
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,190
What a Mechanical Drafters does
- Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
- Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components.
- Coordinate with and consult other workers to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems.
- Position instructions and comments onto drawings.
- Supervise and train other drafters, technologists, and technicians.
- Lay out, draw, and reproduce illustrations for reference manuals and technical publications to describe operation and maintenance of mechanical systems.
- Draw freehand sketches of designs, trace finished drawings onto designated paper for the reproduction of blueprints, and reproduce working drawings on copy machines.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Mechanical Drafters make?
- The median annual wage for Mechanical Drafters is $71,550 ($34 per hour). Pay ranges from about $48,360 at the 10th percentile to $106,580 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Mechanical Drafters?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $75,060, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Mechanical Drafterss the most?
- New Mexico has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $89,940.
- Is Mechanical Drafters a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 40K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Mechanical Drafters do?
- Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.; Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.; Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components..