SOC 17-3013 · May 2025 · United States
Mechanical Drafters
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Mechanical Drafters across the United States is $71,550 per year, measured over 39,960 jobs. The highest state median is in New Mexico, at $89,940.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -6.5%
- Openings per year
- 3,300
- Typical entry-level education
- Associate's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
6.6% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Mechanical Drafters
Pay for this occupation varies by 71.0% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. New Mexico pays $89,940 and South Dakota pays $52,610.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $89,940 | 90 | |
| 2 | Colorado | $85,280 | 580 | |
| 3 | New Jersey | $83,380 | 690 | |
| 4 | California | $82,510 | 3,640 | |
| 5 | Texas | $79,380 | 4,630 | |
| 6 | Louisiana | $77,730 | 420 | |
| 7 | North Dakota | $77,570 | 100 | |
| 8 | Washington | $76,820 | 1,690 | |
| 9 | Maryland | $76,740 | 360 | |
| 10 | New York | $76,490 | 1,940 |
States with the most Mechanical Drafters jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 4,630 | $79,380 | |
| 2 | California | 3,640 | $82,510 | |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 2,330 | $63,480 | |
| 4 | Michigan | 2,030 | $72,280 | |
| 5 | New York | 1,940 | $76,490 | |
| 6 | Ohio | 1,790 | $70,580 | |
| 7 | Washington | 1,690 | $76,820 | |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 1,630 | $63,770 | |
| 9 | Florida | 1,540 | $68,050 | |
| 10 | North Carolina | 1,350 | $59,050 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder | $102,710 | 60 |
| 2 | San Francisco | $98,310 | 390 |
| 3 | San Jose | $97,450 | 240 |
| 4 | Seattle | $94,470 | 1,020 |
| 5 | Albuquerque | $94,140 | 50 |
| 6 | Denver | $90,160 | 380 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs | $87,860 | 30 |
| 8 | Beaumont | $87,220 | 120 |
| 9 | Idaho Falls | $86,420 | 60 |
| 10 | Midland | $86,100 | 40 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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