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Drafter salary
Average drafter salary
$43,542
Average Drafter Salary
The average salary for drafters across the United States is $43,542 annually, which translates to about $21 per hour. This figure varies significantly based on several factors, including level of experience, geographic location, and industry sector. Drafters with more experience typically earn higher salaries. For instance, those with over ten years in the field can see salaries exceeding $60,000 annually.
Salary by State
Geographic location plays a crucial role in determining a drafter's earnings. States such as California, New York, and Texas often report higher salaries due to the demand for skilled professionals in urban areas. For example, drafters in California earn an average of $54,000 per year, making it one of the top-paying states.
Experience Levels
Entry-level drafters can expect to earn around $35,000, while those with mid-level experience might see salaries in the range of $45,000 to $55,000. To maximize earning potential, pursuing certifications and gaining specialized skills in software such as AutoCAD or Revit is recommended.
Highest Paying Drafter Jobs
Positions in engineering and architectural firms typically offer the highest salaries for drafters. Exploring job listings on platforms like Zippia can provide insights into current market demands and salary expectations.
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Where can a Drafter earn more?
Drafter salaries by experience level
Drafter salary estimates from across the web
Average drafter salary by state
The average drafter salary in Maryland, California, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average drafter salary states are Alaska, Indiana, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for drafters
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $53,978 | $25.95 |
| 2 | Oregon | $46,812 | $22.51 |
| 3 | Utah | $45,835 | $22.04 |
| 4 | Ohio | $46,243 | $22.23 |
| 5 | Washington | $47,389 | $22.78 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $44,343 | $21.32 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $47,878 | $23.02 |
| 8 | Arizona | $43,676 | $21.00 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $44,996 | $21.63 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $46,272 | $22.25 |
| 11 | Vermont | $47,653 | $22.91 |
| 12 | Illinois | $45,702 | $21.97 |
| 13 | California | $47,894 | $23.03 |
| 14 | Kansas | $43,672 | $21.00 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $45,018 | $21.64 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $46,261 | $22.24 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $43,318 | $20.83 |
| 18 | Virginia | $46,275 | $22.25 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $43,315 | $20.82 |
| 20 | New York | $47,788 | $22.98 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $41,955 | $20.17 |
| 22 | Texas | $43,299 | $20.82 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $45,714 | $21.98 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $42,432 | $20.40 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $43,486 | $20.91 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $49,561 | $23.83 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $45,452 | $21.85 |
| 28 | Montana | $43,334 | $20.83 |
| 29 | Florida | $42,690 | $20.52 |
| 30 | Colorado | $43,849 | $21.08 |
| 31 | Nevada | $42,337 | $20.35 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $43,646 | $20.98 |
| 33 | Missouri | $41,861 | $20.13 |
| 34 | Michigan | $41,709 | $20.05 |
| 35 | Alaska | $38,211 | $18.37 |
| 36 | Delaware | $42,914 | $20.63 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $43,288 | $20.81 |
| 38 | Georgia | $39,394 | $18.94 |
| 39 | Alabama | $39,997 | $19.23 |
| 40 | Iowa | $39,345 | $18.92 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $42,144 | $20.26 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $42,353 | $20.36 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $39,188 | $18.84 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $41,202 | $19.81 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $39,835 | $19.15 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $37,431 | $18.00 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $39,873 | $19.17 |
| 48 | Indiana | $37,706 | $18.13 |
| 49 | Maine | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $36,867 | $17.72 |
| 51 | Idaho | $37,399 | $17.98 |
Highest paying cities for drafters
The highest-paying cities for drafters are Baltimore, MD, Washington, DC, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $54,078 | $26.00 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $49,597 | $23.84 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $47,867 | $23.01 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $47,801 | $22.98 |
| 5 | Vancouver, WA | $47,764 | $22.96 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $46,702 | $22.45 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $45,733 | $21.99 |
| 8 | Greenville, NC | $45,651 | $21.95 |
| 9 | Montgomery, PA | $44,597 | $21.44 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $43,900 | $21.11 |
| 11 | Kansas City, KS | $43,792 | $21.05 |
| 12 | Chandler, AZ | $43,629 | $20.98 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $43,574 | $20.95 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $43,332 | $20.83 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $42,909 | $20.63 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $42,380 | $20.38 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $41,861 | $20.13 |
| 18 | Montgomery, AL | $39,936 | $19.20 |
| 19 | Greenville, SC | $39,859 | $19.16 |
| 20 | Jacksonville, AR | $39,840 | $19.15 |
Drafter salary details
A drafter's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $56,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a drafter's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| 75th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| Average | $43,542 | $3,629 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying drafter jobs
The highest paying types of drafters are design technician, computer aided design designer, and architectural designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Aided Design Designer | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 92,503 |
| Design Technician | $62,288 | $5,191 | $29.95 | 48,394 |
| Autocad Designer | $55,786 | $4,649 | $26.82 | 46,459 |
| Architectural Designer | $59,122 | $4,927 | $28.42 | 54,358 |
| Architectural Internship | $53,914 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 57,981 |
| Architectural Draftsman | $52,382 | $4,365 | $25.18 | 5,528 |
Top companies hiring drafters now:
Which companies pay drafters the most?
Drafter salaries at National Grid plc and Johnson Controls are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average drafter salary at companies like Page Southerland Page and Forum Energy Technologies are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Grid plc | $56,117 | $26.98 |
| 2 | Johnson Controls | $55,483 | $26.67 |
| 3 | Page Southerland Page | $52,698 | $25.34 |
| 4 | Forum Energy Technologies | $52,409 | $25.20 |
| 5 | Hord Coplan Macht | $52,298 | $25.14 |
| 6 | St. Tammany Health System | $51,964 | $24.98 |
| 7 | Sheladia Associates | $51,705 | $24.86 |
| 8 | Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline | $51,097 | $24.57 |
| 9 | ONEOK | $51,046 | $24.54 |
| 10 | SP Industries | $50,462 | $24.26 |
| 11 | Fortune Brands Home & Security | $50,420 | $24.24 |
| 12 | Shalom Baranes Associates | $50,364 | $24.21 |
| 13 | Toro | $50,047 | $24.06 |
| 14 | Westinghouse Appliances Australia | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| 15 | Dover | $49,489 | $23.79 |
| 16 | Teledyne Technologies Incorporated | $49,118 | $23.61 |
| 17 | MicroPort | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| 18 | Eaton | $48,969 | $23.54 |
| 19 | Summit Utilities | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| 20 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $48,603 | $23.37 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Drafter salary by industry
The average drafter salary varies across industries:
- The average drafter salary in the professional industry is $46,073, the highest of any industry.
- The average drafter salary in the finance industry is $45,994.
- Drafters in the technology industry earn an average salary of $44,297, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for drafters
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $46,073 | $22.15 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $45,994 | $22.11 |
| 3 | Energy | $45,479 | $21.86 |
| 4 | Construction | $45,011 | $21.64 |
| 5 | Technology | $44,297 | $21.30 |
High paying drafter jobs
Drafter salary trends
The average drafter salary has risen by $7,762 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average drafter earned $35,780 annually, but today, they earn $43,542 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for drafters over the last decade.
Compare drafter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average drafter salary over time
Compare drafter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Drafter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,500 | $20.93 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $42,700 | $20.51 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $41,600 | $19.99 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $40,000 | $19.25 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $39,100 | $18.80 | +1.8% |
Recently added drafter salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actalent | Fabrication Drafter | Delano, MN | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Hargroveepc | Drafter | Chicago Heights, IL | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Technipower | Revit BIM Hvac/Piping Drafter Detaller | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/28/2025 | $62,610 |
| All Weather Insulated Panels | Drafter Junior | Vacaville, CA | 06/27/2025 | $52,175 |
| Actalent | Drafter | King of Prussia, PA | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Barracuda Staffing | Drafter | Claremore, OK | 06/27/2025 | $58,436 |
| Hargrove Engineers & Constructors | Drafter | Chicago Heights, IL | 06/24/2025 | $62,610 |
| Russell Tobin | Drafter | San Antonio, TX | 06/24/2025 | $39,653 |
| Convergint Career | Drafter (Fire Alarm) | Renton, WA | 06/22/2025 | $41,740 |
| Technipower | Revit Drafter | Marysville, WA | 06/22/2025 | $45,914 |
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