How much does a drafter make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $30.54 an hour or $5,293 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.54
- Average (mean)
- $68,250
- Jobs
- 14,470
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,420 | $20.88 | |
| 25th | $51,650 | $24.83 | |
| Median | $63,520 | $30.54 | |
| 75th | $79,700 | $38.32 | |
| 90th | $99,380 | $47.78 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| New Jersey | $77,840 |
| California | $73,390 |
| Wisconsin | $73,040 |
| Washington | $72,800 |
| New York | $72,190 |
| Massachusetts | $72,100 |
| New Hampshire | $70,710 |
| Arizona | $70,070 |
| Utah | $69,420 |
| Louisiana | $68,470 |
| Michigan | $67,750 |
| Mississippi | $67,730 |
| Colorado | $67,320 |
| Virginia | $67,220 |
| Connecticut | $66,620 |
| Kansas | $66,040 |
| Minnesota | $63,220 |
| Montana | $63,200 |
| Georgia | $62,400 |
| Nevada | $62,400 |
| Missouri | $61,990 |
| South Carolina | $61,250 |
| Iowa | $60,750 |
| Texas | $59,990 |
| Florida | $59,970 |
| Vermont | $59,930 |
| North Carolina | $59,500 |
| Oregon | $58,790 |
| Nebraska | $58,640 |
| Indiana | $58,600 |
| Kentucky | $57,930 |
| Ohio | $57,610 |
| Idaho | $56,430 |
| Maryland | $55,640 |
| Maine | $55,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,240 |
| Illinois | $53,300 |
| Oklahoma | $49,920 |
| Arkansas | $48,020 |
| Alabama | $47,320 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $90,850 |
| San Francisco, CA | $82,360 |
| New York, NY | $81,220 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $80,470 |
| Detroit, MI | $79,960 |
| Sacramento, CA | $78,020 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $77,020 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $76,330 |
| Fresno, CA | $75,150 |
| Providence, RI | $75,090 |
| Boulder, CO | $74,630 |
| Alexandria, LA | $74,540 |
| Boston, MA | $74,380 |
| San Diego, CA | $73,880 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $73,840 |
In other countries
Drafter belongs to the international group "Draughtspersons".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Architectural and Civil Drafter$66,150
- Electrical and Electronics Drafter$76,870
- Mechanical Drafter$71,550
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician$82,890
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician$64,950
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician$78,190
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician$73,900
- Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician$59,920
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician$66,120
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician$74,510
Frequently asked questions
How much does a drafter make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $30.54 ($63,520 a year).
How much does a drafter make a month?
About $5,293 a month before tax, based on a median of $63,520 a year.
How much does a drafter make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $43,420 or less a year ($20.88 an hour); the top 10% make $99,380 or more.
Which state pays drafters the most?
New Jersey, with a median of $77,840 a year, followed by California ($73,390) and Wisconsin ($73,040).
Which city pays drafters the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $90,850 a year.
How many drafters are there in the United States?
About 14,470 people work as drafters.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.