How much does a mechanical drafter make in San Jose?
$97,450a year
Median yearly pay for mechanical drafters in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $46.85 an hour or $8,121 a month.
- Hourly
- $46.85
- Vs. national median
- +36%
- Rank among cities
- 3 of 180
- Jobs in the area
- 240
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $63,310Median: $97,450Highest 10%: $134,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,310 | $30.44 | |
| 25th | $77,320 | $37.17 | |
| Median | $97,450 | $46.85 | |
| 75th | $119,000 | $57.20 | |
| 90th | $134,600 | $64.71 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for mechanical drafters.
| San Francisco, CA | $98,310 |
| San Diego, CA | $83,550 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $80,780 |
| Oxnard, CA | $78,990 |
| Sacramento, CA | $77,790 |
| Riverside, CA | $75,610 |
| Fresno, CA | $69,850 |
Related jobs in San Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $209,900 |
| Electronics Engineer | $194,400 |
| Electrical Engineer | $187,100 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $181,600 |
| Engineer | $169,700 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $168,000 |
| Materials Engineer | $156,700 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $143,100 |
| Industrial Engineer | $137,000 |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $136,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical drafter make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $46.85 ($97,450 a year).
Do mechanical drafters make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $97,450 against $71,550 nationally, 36% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $82,510, so San Jose pays 18% more.
Where does San Jose rank for mechanical drafter pay?
3 of 180 metro areas with data.
How much does a mechanical drafter make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $63,310 or less a year; the top 10% make $134,600 or more.
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.