SOC 17-3013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mechanical Drafters — Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Wisconsin is $63,770 a year, trailing the national median of $71,550 by 10.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Wisconsin is $63,770 a year, trailing the national median of $71,550 by 10.9%. Half of workers earn between $58,390 and $76,550. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $48,010 and the ninetieth at $92,260.
The area has 1,630 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.15 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 47 states with published data for this occupation, Wisconsin ranks 30th by median wage. Fond du Lac leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $75,240. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 309th of 728 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,010 | −32.9% |
| 25th | $58,390 | −18.4% |
| Median (50th) | $63,770 | −10.9% |
| 75th | $76,550 | +7.0% |
| 90th | $92,260 | +28.9% |
| Mean | $67,960 | −5.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Wisconsin
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fond du Lac | $75,240 | 50 | |
| 2 | Sheboygan | $73,440 | 60 | |
| 3 | Milwaukee | $69,150 | 470 | |
| 4 | Racine | $67,750 | 40 | |
| 5 | Madison | $64,990 | 180 | |
| 6 | Appleton | $64,320 | 80 | |
| 7 | Oshkosh | $63,440 | 30 | |
| 8 | Janesville | $63,230 | 40 | |
| 9 | La Crosse | $62,550 | 40 | |
| 10 | Kenosha | $61,800 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $63,770 goes as far as $67,768 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$63,770as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$67,768US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $63,770 a year, 10.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,010 to $92,260 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,630 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 30th of 47 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fond du Lac, at $75,240.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mechanical Drafters in Wisconsin?
The median annual wage is $63,770, or $30.66 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $71,550, so pay in Wisconsin is 10.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Wisconsin earns more than $92,260 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,010 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fond du Lac, at $75,240 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,630 jobs in this occupation in Wisconsin. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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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