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Best states for a mechanical design drafter
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for mechanical design drafters? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for mechanical design drafter jobs.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for mechanical design drafters. We found that California is the best state in the nation for mechanical design drafters, and people in Windsor earn the most in the field.
The median salary for mechanical design drafters in California is $69,048. Compare that to the median salary in Maine of $49,333, which ranked worst for mechanical design drafters, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that California is the best state for mechanical design drafter jobs, whereas Maine is the worst.
10 best states for mechanical design drafters in 2026
1. California
Total mechanical design drafter jobs: 3,542 Average annual salary: $69,048 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
2. North Dakota
Total mechanical design drafter jobs: 63 Average annual salary: $65,782 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
3. Michigan
Total mechanical design drafter jobs: 582 Average annual salary: $60,882 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
4. New Mexico
Total mechanical design drafter jobs: 128 Average annual salary: $64,663 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
5. Minnesota
Total mechanical design drafter jobs: 546 Average annual salary: $60,847 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
6. Massachusetts
Total mechanical design drafter jobs: 849 Average annual salary: $61,843 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
7. Montana
Total mechanical design drafter jobs: 72 Average annual salary: $61,744 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
8. Ohio
Total mechanical design drafter jobs: 576 Average annual salary: $61,748 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
9. Vermont
Total mechanical design drafter jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $59,903 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
10. Utah
Total mechanical design drafter jobs: 302 Average annual salary: $57,387 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
Mechanical design drafter jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mechanical design drafter
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mechanical design drafter
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $69,048 | $50,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,542 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $65,782 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 63 |
| 3 | Michigan | $60,882 | $47,000 | 9,962,311 | 582 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $64,663 | $47,000 | 2,088,070 | 128 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $60,847 | $48,000 | 5,576,606 | 546 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $61,843 | $49,000 | 6,859,819 | 849 |
| 7 | Montana | $61,744 | $50,000 | 1,050,493 | 72 |
| 8 | Ohio | $61,748 | $46,000 | 11,658,609 | 576 |
| 9 | Vermont | $59,903 | $48,000 | 623,657 | 67 |
| 10 | Utah | $57,387 | $44,000 | 3,101,833 | 302 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $63,532 | $47,000 | 3,004,279 | 94 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $62,399 | $46,000 | 1,815,857 | 35 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $56,258 | $44,000 | 5,795,483 | 489 |
| 14 | Alaska | $63,246 | $56,000 | 739,795 | 58 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $59,937 | $47,000 | 869,666 | 48 |
| 16 | Colorado | $59,457 | $46,000 | 5,607,154 | 444 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $59,287 | $44,000 | 3,930,864 | 123 |
| 18 | Oregon | $57,664 | $45,000 | 4,142,776 | 479 |
| 19 | Iowa | $56,278 | $44,000 | 3,145,711 | 235 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $57,498 | $42,000 | 5,024,369 | 256 |
| 21 | Arizona | $55,474 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 565 |
| 22 | Texas | $54,920 | $39,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,549 |
| 23 | Kansas | $54,846 | $41,000 | 2,913,123 | 223 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $56,999 | $44,000 | 1,059,639 | 68 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $55,220 | $42,000 | 12,805,537 | 715 |
| 26 | Delaware | $57,557 | $43,000 | 961,939 | 75 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $54,374 | $43,000 | 1,342,795 | 174 |
| 28 | Illinois | $57,547 | $44,000 | 12,802,023 | 662 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $55,793 | $43,000 | 1,920,076 | 125 |
| 30 | Nevada | $55,994 | $41,000 | 2,998,039 | 113 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $56,165 | $43,000 | 3,588,184 | 247 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $57,122 | $43,000 | 693,972 | 108 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $53,249 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 44 |
| 34 | New York | $56,338 | $43,000 | 19,849,399 | 858 |
| 35 | Washington | $54,131 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 644 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $55,739 | $39,000 | 4,684,333 | 98 |
| 37 | Missouri | $55,314 | $42,000 | 6,113,532 | 330 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $53,668 | $39,000 | 10,273,419 | 573 |
| 39 | Georgia | $51,907 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 864 |
| 40 | Florida | $52,937 | $37,000 | 20,984,400 | 947 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $56,754 | $46,000 | 1,427,538 | 40 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $53,115 | $38,000 | 2,984,100 | 63 |
| 43 | Idaho | $52,137 | $41,000 | 1,716,943 | 102 |
| 44 | Indiana | $51,734 | $39,000 | 6,666,818 | 297 |
| 45 | New Jersey | $54,592 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 408 |
| 46 | Maryland | $51,098 | $38,000 | 6,052,177 | 456 |
| 47 | Alabama | $48,646 | $35,000 | 4,874,747 | 316 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $51,552 | $38,000 | 4,454,189 | 143 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $50,018 | $37,000 | 6,715,984 | 244 |
| 50 | Virginia | $47,829 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 682 |
| 51 | Maine | $49,333 | $40,000 | 1,335,907 | 73 |
Highest paying states for mechanical design drafters
| Rank | State | Avg. Mechanical Design Drafter Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $69,048 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $65,782 |
| 3 | Michigan | $60,882 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $64,663 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $60,847 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $61,843 |
| 7 | Montana | $61,744 |
| 8 | Ohio | $61,748 |
| 9 | Vermont | $59,903 |
| 10 | Utah | $57,387 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $63,532 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $62,399 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $56,258 |
| 14 | Alaska | $63,246 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $59,937 |
| 16 | Colorado | $59,457 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $59,287 |
| 18 | Oregon | $57,664 |
| 19 | Iowa | $56,278 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $57,498 |
| 21 | Arizona | $55,474 |
| 22 | Texas | $54,920 |
| 23 | Kansas | $54,846 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $56,999 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $55,220 |
| 26 | Delaware | $57,557 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $54,374 |
| 28 | Illinois | $57,547 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $55,793 |
| 30 | Nevada | $55,994 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $56,165 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $57,122 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $53,249 |
| 34 | New York | $56,338 |
| 35 | Washington | $54,131 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $55,739 |
| 37 | Missouri | $55,314 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $53,668 |
| 39 | Georgia | $51,907 |
| 40 | Florida | $52,937 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $56,754 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $53,115 |
| 43 | Idaho | $52,137 |
| 44 | Indiana | $51,734 |
| 45 | New Jersey | $54,592 |
| 46 | Maryland | $51,098 |
| 47 | Alabama | $48,646 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $51,552 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $50,018 |
| 50 | Virginia | $47,829 |
| 51 | Maine | $49,333 |
Mechanical design drafter best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025