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Best states for a drafter
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Drafter opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for drafters, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for drafters.In order to help you decide which state is the best for drafters, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for drafter jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for drafters.If you are currently seeking employment as a drafter, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for drafters in 2025
1. Maryland
Total drafter jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $53,978 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
2. Oregon
Total drafter jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $46,812 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.93
3. Utah
Total drafter jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $45,835 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
4. Ohio
Total drafter jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $46,243 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
5. Washington
Total drafter jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $47,389 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
6. Pennsylvania
Total drafter jobs: 76 Average annual salary: $44,343 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
7. Massachusetts
Total drafter jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $47,878 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 0.63
8. Arizona
Total drafter jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $43,676 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 2.42
9. North Carolina
Total drafter jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $44,996 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0.54
10. West Virginia
Total drafter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,272 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 0
Drafter jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a drafter
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a drafter
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $53,978 | $40,000 | 6,052,177 | 24 |
| 2 | Oregon | $46,812 | $36,000 | 4,142,776 | 40 |
| 3 | Utah | $45,835 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 19 |
| 4 | Ohio | $46,243 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 39 |
| 5 | Washington | $47,389 | $37,000 | 7,405,743 | 36 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $44,343 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 76 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $47,878 | $37,000 | 6,859,819 | 29 |
| 8 | Arizona | $43,676 | $33,000 | 7,016,270 | 71 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $44,996 | $34,000 | 10,273,419 | 26 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $46,272 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 0 |
| 11 | Vermont | $47,653 | $38,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 12 | Illinois | $45,702 | $35,000 | 12,802,023 | 38 |
| 13 | California | $47,894 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 130 |
| 14 | Kansas | $43,672 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 16 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $45,018 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 5 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $46,261 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 1 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $43,318 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 48 |
| 18 | Virginia | $46,275 | $34,000 | 8,470,020 | 34 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $43,315 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 9 |
| 20 | New York | $47,788 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 31 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $41,955 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 63 |
| 22 | Texas | $43,299 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 88 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $45,714 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 9 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $42,432 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 26 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $43,486 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 2 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $49,561 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 4 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $45,452 | $34,000 | 3,588,184 | 10 |
| 28 | Montana | $43,334 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 5 |
| 29 | Florida | $42,690 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 104 |
| 30 | Colorado | $43,849 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 32 |
| 31 | Nevada | $42,337 | $32,000 | 2,998,039 | 10 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $43,646 | $33,000 | 4,684,333 | 2 |
| 33 | Missouri | $41,861 | $32,000 | 6,113,532 | 33 |
| 34 | Michigan | $41,709 | $31,000 | 9,962,311 | 32 |
| 35 | Alaska | $38,211 | $34,000 | 739,795 | 10 |
| 36 | Delaware | $42,914 | $32,000 | 961,939 | 4 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $43,288 | $32,000 | 9,005,644 | 26 |
| 38 | Georgia | $39,394 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 177 |
| 39 | Alabama | $39,997 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 21 |
| 40 | Iowa | $39,345 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 21 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $42,144 | $32,000 | 1,059,639 | 3 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $42,353 | $33,000 | 1,342,795 | 3 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $39,188 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 3 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $41,202 | $31,000 | 3,930,864 | 5 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $39,835 | $30,000 | 3,004,279 | 6 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $37,431 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 13 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $39,873 | $30,000 | 5,024,369 | 13 |
| 48 | Indiana | $37,706 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 23 |
| 49 | Maine | $36,800 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 5 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $36,867 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 3 |
| 51 | Idaho | $37,399 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 3 |
Highest paying states for drafters
| Rank | State | Avg. Drafter Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $53,978 |
| 2 | Oregon | $46,812 |
| 3 | Utah | $45,835 |
| 4 | Ohio | $46,243 |
| 5 | Washington | $47,389 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $44,343 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $47,878 |
| 8 | Arizona | $43,676 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $44,996 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $46,272 |
| 11 | Vermont | $47,653 |
| 12 | Illinois | $45,702 |
| 13 | California | $47,894 |
| 14 | Kansas | $43,672 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $45,018 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $46,261 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $43,318 |
| 18 | Virginia | $46,275 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $43,315 |
| 20 | New York | $47,788 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $41,955 |
| 22 | Texas | $43,299 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $45,714 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $42,432 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $43,486 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $49,561 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $45,452 |
| 28 | Montana | $43,334 |
| 29 | Florida | $42,690 |
| 30 | Colorado | $43,849 |
| 31 | Nevada | $42,337 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $43,646 |
| 33 | Missouri | $41,861 |
| 34 | Michigan | $41,709 |
| 35 | Alaska | $38,211 |
| 36 | Delaware | $42,914 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $43,288 |
| 38 | Georgia | $39,394 |
| 39 | Alabama | $39,997 |
| 40 | Iowa | $39,345 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $42,144 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $42,353 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $39,188 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $41,202 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $39,835 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $37,431 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $39,873 |
| 48 | Indiana | $37,706 |
| 49 | Maine | $36,800 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $36,867 |
| 51 | Idaho | $37,399 |
Drafter best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025