Best cities for a design engineer/drafter
The best cities for design engineers/drafter are Madison, WI, Cleveland, OH, and Albuquerque, NM, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for design engineers/drafter vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for design engineers/drafter in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a design engineer/drafter or considering a move, this list of the best cities for design engineers/drafter to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for design engineers/drafter. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a design engineer/drafter. While the absolute best city for design engineers/drafter is Madison, WI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for design engineers/drafter in 2024.
If you're looking for a design engineer/drafter job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for design engineers/drafter in 2025
1. Madison, WI
Total design engineer/drafter jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $50,640 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 125.78 2. Cleveland, OH
Total design engineer/drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $60,065 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Albuquerque, NM
Total design engineer/drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,872 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Toledo, OH
Total design engineer/drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,870 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Columbus, OH
Total design engineer/drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,037 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total design engineer/drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $54,489 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Detroit, MI
Total design engineer/drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $57,779 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Cincinnati, OH
Total design engineer/drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $55,529 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Tulsa, OK
Total design engineer/drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $53,377 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Milwaukee, WI
Total design engineer/drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $51,227 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for design engineers/drafter
- Madison, WI
- Cleveland, OH
- Albuquerque, NM
- Toledo, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Detroit, MI
- Cincinnati, OH
- Tulsa, OK
- Milwaukee, WI
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Detailed list of the best cities for a design engineer/drafter
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison, WI | $50,640 | $32,000 | 252,551 | 8 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $60,065 | $38,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 3 | Albuquerque, NM | $58,872 | $39,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 4 | Toledo, OH | $58,870 | $37,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $58,037 | $37,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,489 | $35,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $57,779 | $37,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $55,529 | $36,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 9 | Tulsa, OK | $53,377 | $35,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 10 | Milwaukee, WI | $51,227 | $33,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 11 | Henderson, NV | $51,110 | $32,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 12 | Anchorage, AK | $59,822 | $50,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 13 | San Francisco, CA | $68,577 | $43,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $55,078 | $34,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 15 | Oklahoma City, OK | $53,280 | $35,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 16 | Durham, NC | $51,212 | $33,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 17 | Oakland, CA | $68,418 | $43,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 18 | Fremont, CA | $68,213 | $42,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $51,170 | $33,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 20 | Winston-Salem, NC | $50,072 | $32,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 21 | San Jose, CA | $68,111 | $42,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 22 | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,027 | $34,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $51,404 | $33,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 24 | Wichita, KS | $48,721 | $32,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 25 | North Las Vegas, NV | $51,301 | $33,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 26 | Sacramento, CA | $67,715 | $42,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 27 | Stockton, CA | $67,694 | $42,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 28 | Greensboro, NC | $50,482 | $33,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 29 | Omaha, NE | $49,932 | $33,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 30 | Atlanta, GA | $53,910 | $36,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 31 | Fresno, CA | $66,142 | $41,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 32 | New Orleans, LA | $51,680 | $34,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 33 | Lincoln, NE | $49,653 | $33,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 34 | Fort Wayne, IN | $49,142 | $31,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 35 | Glendale, AZ | $50,928 | $33,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 36 | El Paso, TX | $49,593 | $32,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 37 | Bakersfield, CA | $63,941 | $40,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 38 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,911 | $33,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 39 | Charlotte, NC | $48,709 | $32,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 40 | Scottsdale, AZ | $50,874 | $33,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 41 | Boston, MA | $56,981 | $38,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 42 | Chandler, AZ | $50,806 | $33,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 43 | Mesa, AZ | $50,796 | $33,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 44 | Gilbert, AZ | $50,787 | $33,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 45 | Lexington, KY | $47,635 | $31,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 46 | Chicago, IL | $52,960 | $34,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 47 | Louisville, KY | $47,133 | $31,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 48 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,315 | $31,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 49 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,396 | $39,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 50 | Lubbock, TX | $48,922 | $32,000 | 252,506 | - |
Highest paying cities for design engineers/drafter
| Rank | City | Avg. design engineer/drafter salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middletown, NY | $56,581 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | $55,529 |
| 3 | Kennesaw, GA | $53,962 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $53,520 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $53,033 |
| 6 | Aurora, IL | $52,607 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $51,487 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,315 |
| 9 | Roanoke, VA | $44,491 |