How to hire a mechanical design drafter

How to hire a mechanical design drafter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mechanical design drafter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a mechanical design drafter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mechanical design drafter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a mechanical design drafter do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your mechanical design drafter job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a mechanical design drafter for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A mechanical design drafter's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, mechanical design drafters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of mechanical design drafters.

   Type of Mechanical Design Drafter	Description	Hourly rate
   Mechanical Design Drafter	Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.	$21-36
   Draftsman	Draftsmen are professionals with expertise in computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) drawings. They perform similar tasks as architects, such as preparing CADD drawings... Show more	$14-28
   Drafting Engineer	A Drafting Engineer designs and draws the blueprints needed to bring new concepts and products to life. There are three major types of drafting positions: mechanical drafters, electrical and electronics drafters, and architectural and civil drafters.	$17-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Design Layouts
   • Creo
   • Assembly Drawings
   • Aided Design
   • GD
   • Auto CAD
   • BOM
   • Engineering Drawings
   • R
   • HVAC
   • Plumbing
   • Revit
   • Mechanical Drafting
   • Fabrication Drawings

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Calculate requirements and manage HVAC systems, including design, development, compliance, testing, troubleshooting and repair.
   • Incorporate ECO's to update and revise the drawings and BOM's on military aircraft antenna test equipment.
   • Generate ECR's and ECN's to accommodate customer's requirements.
   • Convert 2D drawings into 3D assemblies that can be include into SolidWork's PDM environment.
   • Train manufacturing employees on CNC tube benders and how to utilize manufacturing jig and fixtures.
   • Supervise 8-member shop including : 2 CNC lathes , 2 manual lathes , 1 milling machine and 3 motor technicians.

   More mechanical design drafter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mechanical design drafter job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A mechanical design drafter salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a mechanical design drafter in Kentucky may be lower than in California, and an entry-level mechanical design drafter usually earns less than a senior-level mechanical design drafter. Additionally, a mechanical design drafter with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average mechanical design drafter salary

   $58,371yearly

   $28.06 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mechanical design drafter salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 24, 2026

   Average mechanical design drafter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$73,277	$35
   2	Massachusetts	$61,754	$30
   3	Ohio	$60,018	$29
   4	South Dakota	$59,905	$29
   5	Colorado	$59,604	$29
   6	Oregon	$57,736	$28
   7	Utah	$57,655	$28
   8	Wisconsin	$56,510	$27
   9	Connecticut	$55,879	$27
   10	Arizona	$55,486	$27
   11	Texas	$55,411	$27
   12	Kansas	$54,982	$26
   13	Pennsylvania	$54,662	$26
   14	Washington	$54,285	$26
   15	Florida	$53,079	$26
   16	North Carolina	$52,865	$25
   17	Georgia	$52,464	$25

   Average mechanical design drafter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Salt River Project	$78,176	$37.58
   2	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$68,268	$32.82	13
   3	Tesla	$66,278	$31.86	25
   4	Barry-Wehmiller	$63,881	$30.71	21
   5	Kiewit	$62,118	$29.86	247
   6	Parkson	$61,709	$29.67	2
   7	Twin Peaks Restaurants	$61,645	$29.64
   8	Sargent & Lundy	$60,801	$29.23	215
   9	Woodway Treadmills	$60,636	$29.15	2
   10	Great Northern	$60,520	$29.10	5
   11	Quest Global	$59,872	$28.78
   12	RFA Engineering	$59,504	$28.61	20
   13	Zachry Group	$58,966	$28.35	12
   14	MI Windows and Doors	$58,037	$27.90
   15	The Judge Group	$57,758	$27.77
   16	PEAK Technical Staffing USA	$57,396	$27.59
   17	Spec's	$56,514	$27.17
   18	Velo3D	$56,360	$27.10
   19	Globe Machine Manufacturing	$56,261	$27.05	2
   20	Doosan Hydro Technology	$56,252	$27.04	1

4. Writing a mechanical design drafter job description

   A job description for a mechanical design drafter role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a mechanical design drafter job description:

   Mechanical design drafter job description example

   Headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) is a worldwide leader in the innovative design, engineering, manufacturing and installation of sorting systems and components for the solid waste, recycling, waste-to-energy, plastics, and construction and demolition industries. Wholly owned subsidiaries include Nihot (Amsterdam), National Recovery Technologies (Nashville, TN) and Zero Waste Energy (Pleasant Hill, CA). Clients around the globe choose BHS because of its experience, dedication to cutting-edge technology, quality construction and durability, and unmatched customer service. In business since 1976, we have won numerous industry awards and are poised for continued innovation and growth.

   BHS is looking for an in-office Mechanical Designer/Drafter at our headquarters in Eugene, Oregon.

   In this role you will prepare working drawings of recycling equipment, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other design information. Your primary responsibility will be assembling equipment, screens, and structures in accordance with established standards. You will coordinate with other engineers and be an integral part of our design team. The team strives to provide timely, accurate, and efficient designs. Your initiative, knowledge, experience, and communication skills will allow you to identify improvement opportunities and take actions to develop and implement solutions.

   If you have these qualifications, knowledge, skills, and abilities...

   • Minimum of an associate degree in design/drafting with experience in machinery design and/or fabrication -or- equivalent combination of education and experience required
   • Demonstrated experience working and designing with 3D modeling software required
   • Experience working with AutoDesk Inventor a plus
   • Highly organized, self-motivated individual who can work independently as well as work effectively in a collaborative team environment
   • In depth knowledge of industrial equipment design and safety regulations is a plus
   • Excellent interpersonal skills including verbal and written communication, including the ability to communicate technical ideas verbally and in writing to various audiences

   And can handle these responsibilities...

   • Creating detailed design drawings and specifications for recycling equipment using 3D modeling software. This includes laying out, correctly dimensioning, and drawing schematic, orthographic, or auxiliary views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
   • Coordinating with team members to design, lay out or detail components and systems to resolve design or other problems. Modifying and revising designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
   • Computing mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components using 3D modeling software and other standard design tools.
   • Reviewing equipment design requirements and producing equipment drawings based on standard component designs and good Engineering principals.
   • Creating assembly drawings with the necessary details, instructions, and comments.
   • Verifying structural integrity of designs based on material selection

   We will give you...

   • Competitive Pay
   • Medical
   • Vision
   • Dental, including Orthodontia
   • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance
   • Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance
   • 401(k) with company match
   • Generous pay for time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, bereavement, jury duty
   • Employee Assistance Program
   • Flexible Spending Account
   • Tuition reimbursement
   • Targeted learning and development opportunities
   • Positive and friendly work environment

   This is an exciting time to be part of a rapidly growing company on the verge of even greater success. If you think you have what it takes to be part of a company that strives to create a working environment that stimulates team spirit, passion, engagement, and achievement, we want to hear from you!

   Please visit our website ( www.JoinBHS.com ) to apply and learn more.

   BHS values diversity in its work force and is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find mechanical design drafters for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any mechanical design drafters they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level mechanical design drafters with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your mechanical design drafter job on Zippia to find and recruit mechanical design drafter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit mechanical design drafters, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new mechanical design drafter

   Once you have selected a candidate for the mechanical design drafter position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new mechanical design drafter first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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