The average salary for a drafter in the United States is around $60,340 per year.
Avg Salary
Drafters earn an average yearly salary of $60,340.
Wages typically start from $37,370 and go up to $80,560.
11% below national average Updated in 2021
Drafter earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level drafter earnings begin at:
$38.73 per hour
$80,560 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level drafter earnings begin at:
$36.03 per hour
$74,940 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level drafter earnings begin at:
$29.01 per hour
$60,340 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level drafter earnings begin at:
$22.81 per hour
$47,450 per year
10th percentile
Starting level drafter earnings begin at:
$17.96 per hour
$37,370 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Drafter salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $76,470 |
| Massachusetts | $62,880 |
| District of Columbia | $62,230 |
| Maryland | $62,230 |
| California | $61,820 |
| Illinois | $61,760 |
| Ohio | $61,650 |
| Colorado | $61,610 |
| Washington | $61,170 |
| Connecticut | $60,980 |
| Hawaii | $60,980 |
| New Jersey | $60,980 |
| New York | $60,850 |
| Vermont | $60,780 |
| Nevada | $60,670 |
| Minnesota | $60,640 |
| Rhode Island | $60,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,380 |
| Georgia | $60,360 |
| Arizona | $60,220 |
| New Hampshire | $60,220 |
| South Carolina | $59,950 |
| Delaware | $59,330 |
| Oregon | $59,330 |
| Wisconsin | $59,330 |
| Iowa | $59,240 |
| Texas | $59,110 |
| Tennessee | $58,730 |
| North Carolina | $58,410 |
| Virginia | $58,110 |
| West Virginia | $57,780 |
| Maine | $57,260 |
| Missouri | $56,400 |
| Louisiana | $55,760 |
| Indiana | $54,830 |
| New Mexico | $49,930 |
| Alabama | $49,770 |
| Arkansas | $49,320 |
| Oklahoma | $49,250 |
| Florida | $48,720 |
| Montana | $48,680 |
| North Dakota | $48,670 |
| Nebraska | $48,670 |
| Wyoming | $48,670 |
| Kansas | $48,460 |
| Utah | $48,460 |
| Michigan | $48,410 |
| Kentucky | $47,840 |
| Idaho | $47,600 |
| Guam | $47,120 |
| Mississippi | $46,880 |
| South Dakota | $44,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,000 |
How do drafter salaries compare to similar careers?
Drafters earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than electricians but more than sheet metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Electrician salary | $60K |
| Interior designer salary | $60K |
| Brickmason salary | $59K |
| Ironworker salary | $59K |
| Industrial engineering technician salary | $60K |
| Drafter salary | $60K |
| Model maker salary | $61K |
| Graphic designer salary | $51K |
| Industrial machinery mechanic salary | $60K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $53K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)