SOC 17-3013 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations

Mechanical Drafters

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$71,550

U.S. median hourly wage$34.40

U.S. employment39,960

Nationally, mechanical drafters earned a median of $71,550 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 39,960 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Mechanical Drafters: pay and employment by state
State
New Mexico	$89,940	$43.24	90	0.1
Colorado	$85,280	$41.00	580	0.2
New Jersey	$83,380	$40.09	690	0.2
California	$82,510	$39.67	3,640	0.2
Texas	$79,380	$38.16	4,630	0.3
Louisiana	$77,730	$37.37	420	0.2
North Dakota	$77,570	$37.29	100	0.2
Washington	$76,820	$36.93	1,690	0.5
Maryland	$76,740	$36.89	360	0.1
New York	$76,490	$36.78	1,940	0.2
Maine	$76,360	$36.71	620	1.0
Nevada	$75,830	$36.46	250	0.2
Massachusetts	$75,490	$36.29	620	0.2
Oregon	$74,000	$35.58	410	0.2
Minnesota	$73,090	$35.14	1,220	0.4
Vermont	$73,040	$35.12	70	0.2
Michigan	$72,280	$34.75	2,030	0.5
Ohio	$70,580	$33.93	1,790	0.3
Utah	$70,000	$33.65	490	0.3
Virginia	$69,630	$33.48	630	0.2
Rhode Island	$69,290	$33.31	100	0.2
Kentucky	$68,880	$33.12	510	0.3
Connecticut	$68,830	$33.09	450	0.3
Florida	$68,050	$32.72	1,540	0.2
Arizona	$67,410	$32.41	630	0.2
Georgia	$66,670	$32.06	820	0.2
Missouri	$66,350	$31.90	870	0.3
Kansas	$65,250	$31.37	540	0.4
West Virginia	$65,100	$31.30	140	0.2
Wisconsin	$63,770	$30.66	1,630	0.6
South Carolina	$63,740	$30.64	640	0.3
Pennsylvania	$63,480	$30.52	2,330	0.4
Oklahoma	$63,440	$30.50	650	0.4
Tennessee	$63,390	$30.48	740	0.2
Iowa	$63,330	$30.45	630	0.4
Illinois	$63,320	$30.44	450	0.1
Indiana	$62,820	$30.20	1,300	0.4
Nebraska	$61,170	$29.41	530	0.5
Wyoming	$61,070	$29.36	60	0.2
Mississippi	$60,460	$29.07	260	0.2
Arkansas	$59,960	$28.83	250	0.2
Idaho	$59,050	$28.39	330	0.4
North Carolina	$59,050	$28.39	1,350	0.3
Delaware	$57,110	$27.46	160	0.3
New Hampshire	$55,390	$26.63	Not published	Not published
Alabama	$53,600	$25.77	440	0.2
Puerto Rico	$53,470	$25.71	320	0.3
South Dakota	$52,610	$25.29	100	0.2
Alaska	Not published	Not published	50	0.1

Pay by metro area

All 184 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Mechanical Drafters: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Boulder, CO	$102,710	$49.38	60	0.3
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$98,310	$47.27	390	0.2
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$97,450	$46.85	240	0.2
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$94,470	$45.42	1,020	0.5
Albuquerque, NM	$94,140	$45.26	50	0.1
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$90,160	$43.35	380	0.2
Colorado Springs, CO	$87,860	$42.24	30	0.1
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$87,220	$41.93	120	0.7
Idaho Falls, ID	$86,420	$41.55	60	0.8
Midland, TX	$86,100	$41.39	40	0.4
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$84,100	$40.43	50	0.4
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$84,070	$40.42	1,180	0.1
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$83,550	$40.17	370	0.2
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$83,200	$40.00	1,620	0.4
Niles, MI	$82,960	$39.88	50	0.8
Wichita, KS	$82,590	$39.71	190	0.6
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$80,970	$38.93	50	0.2
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$80,780	$38.84	1,480	0.2
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$80,550	$38.73	50	0.3
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$80,510	$38.71	410	0.3
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$79,180	$38.07	30	0.2
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$79,130	$38.04	80	0.2
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$78,990	$37.98	90	0.3
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$78,820	$37.89	1,300	0.4
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$78,790	$37.88	130	0.2
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$78,640	$37.81	90	0.5
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$78,350	$37.67	210	0.2
Huntsville, AL	$78,250	$37.62	90	0.3
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$78,210	$37.60	410	0.2
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$78,110	$37.56	190	0.2
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$77,790	$37.40	180	0.2
Baton Rouge, LA	$77,720	$37.37	140	0.3
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$77,670	$37.34	100	0.3
Fargo, ND-MN	$77,520	$37.27	40	0.3
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$77,500	$37.26	160	0.2
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$77,250	$37.14	300	0.3
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$77,160	$37.09	310	0.2
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$76,600	$36.83	190	0.1
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$76,520	$36.79	40	0.1
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$76,490	$36.78	90	0.3
Columbus, OH	$76,480	$36.77	350	0.3
Portland-South Portland, ME	$76,360	$36.71	570	2.0
Kansas City, MO-KS	$76,340	$36.70	390	0.4
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$76,170	$36.62	40	0.1
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$75,830	$36.46	Not published	Not published
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$75,770	$36.43	830	0.4
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$75,610	$36.35	350	0.2
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$75,560	$36.33	30	0.2
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$75,510	$36.30	160	0.4
Syracuse, NY	$75,510	$36.31	130	0.4
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$75,360	$36.23	500	0.2
Fond du Lac, WI	$75,240	$36.18	50	1.1
Grand Forks, ND-MN	$75,160	$36.13	30	0.6
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$75,050	$36.08	970	0.5
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$74,490	$35.81	360	0.6
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$74,100	$35.63	730	0.3
Omaha, NE-IA	$73,790	$35.48	160	0.3
Bellingham, WA	$73,680	$35.42	80	0.9
Sheboygan, WI	$73,440	$35.31	60	1.0
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$73,230	$35.21	340	0.1
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$73,030	$35.11	230	0.3
New Haven, CT	$72,970	$35.08	60	0.2
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	$72,940	$35.07	60	0.5
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$72,540	$34.88	320	0.1
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$72,510	$34.86	190	0.2
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$72,500	$34.86	160	0.3
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$72,170	$34.70	230	0.2
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$71,920	$34.58	200	0.4
Ogden, UT	$71,860	$34.55	130	0.5
Longview, TX	$71,790	$34.52	60	0.5
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$71,520	$34.38	100	0.3
St. Louis, MO-IL	$70,830	$34.05	330	0.2
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$69,990	$33.65	160	0.2
Fresno, CA	$69,850	$33.58	70	0.2
Reading, PA	$69,840	$33.58	60	0.3
Rochester, NY	$69,750	$33.53	220	0.4
Richmond, VA	$69,630	$33.48	100	0.2
Pittsburgh, PA	$69,550	$33.44	540	0.5
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$69,370	$33.35	40	0.2
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$69,240	$33.29	310	0.3
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$69,150	$33.25	470	0.6
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$68,960	$33.15	80	0.2
Jacksonville, FL	$68,880	$33.12	90	0.1
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$68,830	$33.09	130	1.1
Jackson, MI	$68,760	$33.06	30	0.6
Tulsa, OK	$68,640	$33.00	280	0.6
Ann Arbor, MI	$67,980	$32.68	50	0.2
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$67,850	$32.62	50	0.2
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	$67,750	$32.57	40	0.5
Elizabethtown, KY	$67,660	$32.53	50	0.9
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$67,600	$32.50	510	0.2
Springfield, MA	$67,470	$32.44	50	0.3
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$67,380	$32.39	50	0.2
Mankato, MN	$67,250	$32.33	50	0.9
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$67,190	$32.30	60	0.3
Worcester, MA	$66,980	$32.20	100	0.3
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$66,710	$32.07	60	0.4
Roanoke, VA	$66,560	$32.00	60	0.4
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$66,170	$31.81	180	0.4
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$66,090	$31.78	70	0.2
Modesto, CA	$66,060	$31.76	40	0.2
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$66,020	$31.74	30	0.6
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$65,840	$31.66	60	0.3
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$65,170	$31.33	140	0.4
Madison, WI	$64,990	$31.24	180	0.4
Fort Wayne, IN	$64,820	$31.17	80	0.3
Cleveland, OH	$64,770	$31.14	210	0.2
Knoxville, TN	$64,730	$31.12	170	0.4
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$64,510	$31.02	60	0.2
Springfield, MO	$64,330	$30.93	90	0.4
Appleton, WI	$64,320	$30.92	80	0.7
St. Cloud, MN	$64,000	$30.77	70	0.7
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$63,980	$30.76	50	0.1
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$63,790	$30.67	40	0.1
Canton-Massillon, OH	$63,750	$30.65	60	0.4
Toledo, OH	$63,720	$30.63	90	0.3
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$63,680	$30.62	50	0.1
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$63,580	$30.57	100	0.3
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$63,470	$30.52	80	0.3
Oklahoma City, OK	$63,450	$30.51	190	0.3
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	$63,440	$30.50	30	0.4
Clarksville, TN-KY	$63,400	$30.48	40	0.4
Janesville-Beloit, WI	$63,230	$30.40	40	0.6
Reno, NV	$63,180	$30.38	70	0.3
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$63,140	$30.35	230	0.2
Akron, OH	$63,030	$30.30	100	0.3
Utica-Rome, NY	$62,910	$30.24	40	0.4
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$62,890	$30.24	400	0.3
York-Hanover, PA	$62,730	$30.16	140	0.8
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	$62,550	$30.07	40	0.5
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$62,420	$30.01	180	0.2
Tucson, AZ	$62,140	$29.87	50	0.1
Salem, OR	$61,850	$29.74	30	0.2
Kenosha, WI	$61,800	$29.71	30	0.5
Columbus, IN	$61,730	$29.68	40	0.7
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$61,670	$29.65	40	0.2
Green Bay, WI	$61,590	$29.61	120	0.7
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$61,330	$29.49	110	0.2
Columbia, SC	$61,300	$29.47	30	0.1
Eau Claire, WI	$61,290	$29.47	30	0.4
Duluth, MN-WI	$61,270	$29.46	60	0.5
Lancaster, PA	$61,270	$29.46	120	0.5
Lafayette, LA	$61,240	$29.44	50	0.3
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$61,220	$29.43	200	0.3
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$61,060	$29.35	160	0.6
Lynchburg, VA	$60,930	$29.30	50	0.5
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$60,760	$29.21	40	0.3
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$60,680	$29.17	80	0.2
Jefferson City, MO	$60,550	$29.11	40	0.6
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL	$60,260	$28.97	30	0.3
Glens Falls, NY	$60,130	$28.91	40	0.7
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$59,850	$28.78	100	0.3
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$59,660	$28.68	140	0.4
Chambersburg, PA	$59,550	$28.63	40	0.6
Florence, SC	$59,320	$28.52	60	0.6
Asheville, NC	$59,270	$28.49	80	0.4
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$59,270	$28.49	130	0.5
Birmingham, AL	$59,260	$28.49	70	0.1
Lincoln, NE	$59,190	$28.46	80	0.4
Ocala, FL	$59,140	$28.43	80	0.6
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$58,880	$28.31	140	1.1
Amarillo, TX	$58,580	$28.16	40	0.3
Winston-Salem, NC	$58,560	$28.15	70	0.3
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$58,090	$27.93	30	0.2
Erie, PA	$57,970	$27.87	60	0.5
Wausau, WI	$57,920	$27.85	60	0.8
Dubuque, IA	$57,440	$27.62	50	0.8
Cedar Rapids, IA	$57,430	$27.61	50	0.4
Evansville, IN	$57,060	$27.43	40	0.3
Boise City, ID	$56,860	$27.34	130	0.3
Yakima, WA	$55,510	$26.69	30	0.3
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	$55,290	$26.58	30	0.5
Youngstown-Warren, OH	$55,160	$26.52	60	0.4
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$53,630	$25.79	40	0.5
Montgomery, AL	$50,420	$24.24	30	0.2
Wilmington, NC	$50,150	$24.11	Not published	Not published
Mobile, AL	$49,210	$23.66	50	0.3
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$47,570	$22.87	40	0.3
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$47,400	$22.79	40	0.1
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$43,680	$21.00	210	0.3
Anchorage, AK	Not published	Not published	40	0.2
Flint, MI	Not published	Not published	40	0.3
Greeley, CO	Not published	Not published	30	0.3
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	Not published	Not published	50	0.4

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.