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Drafting internship salary
Average drafting internship salary
$42,284
Average Drafting Internship Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a drafting internship is approximately $42,284 annually or $20 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, industry, and level of experience. For example, internships in metropolitan areas often offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for skilled draftsmen.
Where Can a Drafting Internship Earn More?
Drafting interns can find better pay in states like California, Texas, and New York. Cities such as San Francisco and New York City are known for offering competitive salaries, often exceeding the national average. Additionally, industries like architecture, engineering, and construction typically provide higher compensation for interns due to the specialized skills required.
Career Opportunities
This internship serves as a stepping stone into various career paths in drafting and design. By gaining practical experience, interns enhance their resumes, making them more attractive to potential employers in related fields.
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Where can a Drafting Internship earn more?
Average drafting internship salary by state
The average drafting internship salary in Maryland, New Jersey, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average drafting internship salary states are Mississippi, Wyoming, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for drafting interns
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $51,849 | $24.93 |
| 2 | Indiana | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| 3 | Maryland | $47,776 | $22.97 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| 5 | California | $46,515 | $22.36 |
| 6 | Illinois | $46,008 | $22.12 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $46,696 | $22.45 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $42,264 | $20.32 |
| 9 | Texas | $42,751 | $20.55 |
| 10 | Arizona | $40,511 | $19.48 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $45,306 | $21.78 |
| 12 | South Carolina | $40,715 | $19.57 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $40,197 | $19.33 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $41,237 | $19.83 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $40,685 | $19.56 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $41,629 | $20.01 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $38,513 | $18.52 |
| 18 | Oregon | $39,744 | $19.11 |
| 19 | New York | $44,136 | $21.22 |
| 20 | Delaware | $42,496 | $20.43 |
| 21 | Ohio | $39,975 | $19.22 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $41,824 | $20.11 |
| 23 | Missouri | $38,571 | $18.54 |
| 24 | Vermont | $41,838 | $20.11 |
| 25 | Washington | $39,467 | $18.97 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $43,033 | $20.69 |
| 27 | Virginia | $41,861 | $20.13 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $41,244 | $19.83 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $37,431 | $18.00 |
| 30 | Florida | $37,963 | $18.25 |
| 31 | Georgia | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $38,806 | $18.66 |
| 33 | Alaska | $36,346 | $17.47 |
| 34 | Iowa | $36,446 | $17.52 |
| 35 | Colorado | $38,836 | $18.67 |
| 36 | Nevada | $38,049 | $18.29 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $38,544 | $18.53 |
| 38 | Montana | $38,057 | $18.30 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $36,094 | $17.35 |
| 40 | Michigan | $35,991 | $17.30 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $34,975 | $16.81 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $37,825 | $18.19 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $35,847 | $17.23 |
| 44 | Utah | $32,706 | $15.72 |
| 45 | Idaho | $33,082 | $15.90 |
| 46 | Maine | $32,553 | $15.65 |
| 47 | Kansas | $34,291 | $16.49 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $34,114 | $16.40 |
| 49 | Alabama | $31,568 | $15.18 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $34,732 | $16.70 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $34,223 | $16.45 |
Highest paying cities for drafting interns
The highest-paying cities for drafting interns are Annapolis, MD, San Francisco, CA, and Providence, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis, MD | $47,893 | $23.03 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $47,172 | $22.68 |
| 3 | Providence, RI | $45,436 | $21.84 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $44,502 | $21.40 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $43,066 | $20.70 |
| 6 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $43,042 | $20.69 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $42,530 | $20.45 |
| 8 | Harrisburg, PA | $42,440 | $20.40 |
| 9 | Frankfort, KY | $42,045 | $20.21 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $41,724 | $20.06 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $41,623 | $20.01 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $41,587 | $19.99 |
| 13 | Bismarck, ND | $41,086 | $19.75 |
| 14 | Columbia, SC | $40,740 | $19.59 |
| 15 | Hartford, CT | $40,606 | $19.52 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,463 | $19.45 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $40,061 | $19.26 |
| 18 | Olympia, WA | $39,694 | $19.08 |
| 19 | Oklahoma City, OK | $38,922 | $18.71 |
| 20 | Racine, WI | $38,843 | $18.67 |
Drafting internship salary details
A drafting internship's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $58,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a drafting internship's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| Average | $42,284 | $3,524 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying drafting internship jobs
The highest paying types of drafting interns are structural designer, mechanical designer, and computer aided design designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Aided Design Designer | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 92,503 |
| Mechanical Designer | $62,541 | $5,212 | $30.07 | 65,748 |
| Autocad Designer | $55,786 | $4,649 | $26.82 | 46,459 |
| Architectural Draftsman | $52,382 | $4,365 | $25.18 | 5,528 |
| Architectural Designer | $59,122 | $4,927 | $28.42 | 54,358 |
| Truss Designer | $50,866 | $4,239 | $24.45 | 45,424 |
Top companies hiring drafting interns now:
Which companies pay drafting interns the most?
Drafting internship salaries at Eversource Energy and Black & Veatch are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average drafting internship salary at companies like Danfoss and Modine Manufacturing are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eversource Energy | $54,320 | $26.12 |
| 2 | Black & Veatch | $49,636 | $23.86 |
| 3 | Danfoss | $47,406 | $22.79 |
| 4 | Modine Manufacturing | $46,604 | $22.41 |
| 5 | Anheuser-Busch | $45,122 | $21.69 |
| 6 | KGD Architecture | $41,654 | $20.03 |
| 7 | Church Of Jesus Christ Inc | $41,222 | $19.82 |
| 8 | Banner Engineering | $40,925 | $19.68 |
| 9 | ITW | $40,346 | $19.40 |
| 10 | Helix Electric | $39,312 | $18.90 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Drafting Internship salary by industry
The average drafting internship salary varies across industries:
- The average drafting internship salary in the energy industry is $47,037, the highest of any industry.
- The average drafting internship salary in the finance industry is $46,782.
- Drafting interns in the professional industry earn an average salary of $43,657, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for drafting interns
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $47,037 | $22.61 |
| 2 | Technology | $46,782 | $22.49 |
| 3 | Construction | $45,957 | $22.09 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $45,667 | $21.96 |
| 5 | Professional | $43,657 | $20.99 |
High paying drafting internship jobs
Drafting internship salary trends
The average drafting internship salary has risen by $7,538 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average drafting internship earned $34,746 annually, but today, they earn $42,284 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for drafting interns over the last decade.
Compare drafting internship salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average drafting internship salary over time
Compare drafting internship salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Drafting internship salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,300 | $20.33 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $41,400 | $19.92 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $40,400 | $19.42 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $38,900 | $18.69 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $38,000 | $18.26 | +1.8% |
Recently added drafting internship salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flatiron Construction Corp | Civil Drafting Intern | Chino, CA | 05/30/2025 | $52,175 |
| Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories | Drafter/Designer Intern | Lakewood, CO | 05/15/2025 | $40,697 |
| Schweitzer Engineering Labs | Drafter Intern | Pullman, WA | 05/13/2025 | $40,697 |
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | Paid Intern-Hqf Architectural Drafter | Salt Lake City, UT | 05/10/2025 | $41,740 |
| Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories | Drafter/Designer Intern | Lakewood, CO | 04/29/2025 | $40,697 |
| Ampirical Solutions | Intern-Autocad Drafter | Covington, LA | 04/29/2025 | $35,479 |
| Lakelands Concrete Products | Drafting Intern | Lima, NY | 04/12/2025 | $39,653 |
| Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories | Drafter/Designer Intern | Lakewood, CO | 03/30/2025 | $40,697 |
| Flatiron | Civil Drafting Intern | Broomfield, CO | 03/27/2025 | $50,088 |
| Flatiron | Civil Drafting Intern | San Diego, CA | 03/27/2025 | $52,175 |
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