Mechanical Drafter Salary and Wage Information
| Wage Rate | Low (<10%) | Median (50%) | High (>90%) |
| Hourly Wage | $15.95 | $24.80 | $39.50 |
| Annual Wage | $33,200 | $51,500 | $82,200 |
- "Low (<10%)" indicates that 10% of workers earned less and 90% earned more.
- "Median (50%)" indicates that 50% of workers earned less and 50% earned more.
- "High (>90%)" indicates that 90% of workers earned less and 10% earned more.
- "N/A" indicates that data in not available
*The annual salary and wage data presented above represents U.S, Based workers with full-time employment and year-round schedules.
Additional Information
Mechanical Drafters prepare detailed technical drawings, schematics, and diagrams of machinery and other mechanical devices. These diagrams are done in three dimensions, and include such engineering information as fastening methods, materials, dimensions, and more. Mechanical drafters typically work with specialized drafting software (CADD), and must possess specialized knowledge of engineering theory, mechanical processes, and materials properties.The median annual salary for mechanical drafters was just over $54,500 in 2012. The lowest ten percent of mechanical drafters earned less than $33,200 a year, while the top ten percent earned more than $82,160.
For the top five industries employing mechanical drafters, the median annual salaries were as follows:
| Aerospace parts and products | $71,490 |
| Architectural and engineering services | $56,600 |
| Architectural and metals manufacturing | $47,900 |
| Boat building | $56,110 |
| Machinery manufacturing | $49,950 |