Best cities for a design drafter
The best cities for design drafters are El Paso, TX, Cincinnati, OH, and Albuquerque, NM, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for design drafters vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for design drafters in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a design drafter or considering a move, this list of the best cities for design drafters to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for design drafters. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a design drafter. While the absolute best city for design drafters is El Paso, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for design drafters in 2024.
If you're looking for a design drafter job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for design drafters in 2025
1. El Paso, TX
Total design drafter jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $56,613 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 1.47 2. Cincinnati, OH
Total design drafter jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $51,803 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 1.94 3. Albuquerque, NM
Total design drafter jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $57,251 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 0.63 4. Houston, TX
Total design drafter jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $55,857 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 0.90 5. Fort Worth, TX
Total design drafter jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $55,644 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location quotient: 0.51 6. San Antonio, TX
Total design drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $56,021 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Cleveland, OH
Total design drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $53,951 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Austin, TX
Total design drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $55,967 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Laredo, TX
Total design drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $55,923 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Toledo, OH
Total design drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $53,247 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for design drafters
- El Paso, TX
- Cincinnati, OH
- Albuquerque, NM
- Houston, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Cleveland, OH
- Austin, TX
- Laredo, TX
- Toledo, OH
- (1 design drafter jobs)
- (5 design drafter jobs)
- (1 design drafter jobs)
- (12 design drafter jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a design drafter
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso, TX | $56,613 | $41,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | $51,803 | $38,000 | 298,800 | 5 |
| 3 | Albuquerque, NM | $57,251 | $42,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $55,857 | $40,000 | 2,303,482 | 12 |
| 5 | Fort Worth, TX | $55,644 | $40,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $56,021 | $40,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $53,951 | $39,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $55,967 | $40,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 9 | Laredo, TX | $55,923 | $40,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 10 | Toledo, OH | $53,247 | $39,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 11 | Corpus Christi, TX | $55,910 | $40,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $52,606 | $38,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $55,592 | $40,000 | 1,317,929 | 2 |
| 14 | Arlington, TX | $55,628 | $40,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 15 | Lubbock, TX | $56,077 | $41,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 16 | Irving, TX | $55,597 | $40,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 17 | New Orleans, LA | $50,161 | $35,000 | 391,495 | 1 |
| 18 | Glendale, AZ | $48,967 | $36,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 19 | Garland, TX | $55,558 | $40,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 20 | Plano, TX | $55,548 | $40,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 21 | Scottsdale, AZ | $48,946 | $36,000 | 246,645 | 4 |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,898 | $36,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | $52,433 | $38,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 24 | Reno, NV | $50,175 | $36,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 25 | Tulsa, OK | $52,264 | $38,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 26 | Oklahoma City, OK | $52,196 | $38,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 27 | Omaha, NE | $48,550 | $36,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 28 | Pittsburgh, PA | $47,131 | $34,000 | 303,625 | 5 |
| 29 | Lincoln, NE | $48,503 | $36,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 30 | San Francisco, CA | $62,670 | $45,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 31 | Fremont, CA | $62,344 | $44,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 32 | Fort Wayne, IN | $45,080 | $33,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 33 | Oakland, CA | $62,554 | $45,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 34 | Sacramento, CA | $62,260 | $44,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 35 | Tucson, AZ | $48,739 | $35,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 36 | San Jose, CA | $62,212 | $44,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 37 | Boston, MA | $55,082 | $41,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 38 | Stockton, CA | $62,094 | $44,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 39 | Saint Paul, MN | $51,609 | $39,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 40 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,587 | $39,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 41 | Lexington, KY | $44,836 | $33,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 42 | Wichita, KS | $47,843 | $35,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 43 | Saint Louis, MO | $48,442 | $36,000 | 311,404 | 2 |
| 44 | Fresno, CA | $60,976 | $44,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 45 | Islip, NY | $57,251 | $42,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 46 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,960 | $36,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 47 | Brookhaven, NY | $57,215 | $42,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 48 | Hempstead, NY | $57,214 | $42,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 49 | New York, NY | $57,144 | $42,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 50 | Oyster Bay, NY | $57,182 | $42,000 | 293,214 | - |
Highest paying cities for design drafters
| Rank | City | Avg. design drafter salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino, CA | $62,330 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $57,144 |
| 3 | West Memphis, AR | $55,869 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $55,857 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $55,082 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $52,264 |
| 7 | Duluth, MN | $51,873 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $51,833 |
| 9 | Baton Rouge, LA | $50,231 |
| 10 | Greenville, SC | $50,038 |
| 11 | Rockford, IL | $49,192 |
| 12 | Glendale, AZ | $48,967 |
| 13 | Salem, OR | $48,282 |
| 14 | Orlando, FL | $47,413 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $46,459 |
| 16 | De Pere, WI | $46,159 |
| 17 | Cheyenne, WY | $45,701 |
| 18 | Lawrenceville, GA | $45,106 |
| 19 | Vancouver, WA | $44,967 |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $44,739 |
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Updated January 8, 2025