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Autocad drafter salary
Average autocad drafter salary
$41,984
Average AutoCAD Drafter Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for an AutoCAD Drafter is $41,984 annually, or about $20 per hour. This wage reflects a dynamic job market where salaries can differ based on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level drafters typically start at lower salaries, while those with significant experience can earn considerably more.
Salary by Experience Level
As drafters gain experience, their earning potential generally increases. For instance, entry-level drafters may earn around $35,000, while seasoned professionals can see salaries exceeding $55,000 annually. Understanding these salary trends helps individuals plan their career paths effectively.
Where Can AutoCAD Drafters Earn More?
States such as California, Texas, and New York often offer higher salaries due to demand and cost of living factors. Additionally, positions in specialized fields—like architecture or engineering—tend to pay more than those in general drafting roles.
Conclusion
For AutoCAD drafters, exploring opportunities across various states and industries can lead to improved salary prospects. Keeping an eye on market trends and continuing education can also enhance earning potential.
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Where can an Autocad Drafter earn more?
Autocad drafter salaries by experience level
Autocad drafter salary estimates from across the web
Average autocad drafter salary by state
The average autocad drafter salary in Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average autocad drafter salary states are Nevada, Mississippi, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for autocad drafters
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $44,676 | $21.48 |
| 2 | Texas | $45,885 | $22.06 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $47,119 | $22.65 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $42,399 | $20.38 |
| 5 | Illinois | $45,244 | $21.75 |
| 6 | Maryland | $46,538 | $22.37 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $41,266 | $19.84 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $46,538 | $22.37 |
| 9 | Florida | $41,588 | $19.99 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $44,282 | $21.29 |
| 11 | New York | $45,665 | $21.95 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $45,186 | $21.72 |
| 13 | Montana | $41,391 | $19.90 |
| 14 | Arizona | $40,047 | $19.25 |
| 15 | Indiana | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $50,333 | $24.20 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $43,390 | $20.86 |
| 18 | California | $44,799 | $21.54 |
| 19 | Vermont | $44,260 | $21.28 |
| 20 | Delaware | $41,913 | $20.15 |
| 21 | Washington | $41,968 | $20.18 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $40,702 | $19.57 |
| 23 | Missouri | $40,052 | $19.26 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $39,435 | $18.96 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $40,450 | $19.45 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $41,557 | $19.98 |
| 27 | Iowa | $38,799 | $18.65 |
| 28 | Colorado | $41,072 | $19.75 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $41,927 | $20.16 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $38,545 | $18.53 |
| 31 | Ohio | $38,582 | $18.55 |
| 32 | Georgia | $38,256 | $18.39 |
| 33 | Virginia | $40,783 | $19.61 |
| 34 | Utah | $38,158 | $18.35 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $44,083 | $21.19 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $38,022 | $18.28 |
| 37 | Oregon | $38,067 | $18.30 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $38,211 | $18.37 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $37,401 | $17.98 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | $39,639 | $19.06 |
| 41 | Nevada | $36,868 | $17.73 |
| 42 | Kansas | $37,283 | $17.92 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $37,319 | $17.94 |
| 44 | Connecticut | $39,298 | $18.89 |
| 45 | Michigan | $37,282 | $17.92 |
| 46 | Alaska | $37,367 | $17.96 |
| 47 | Idaho | $35,638 | $17.13 |
| 48 | Alabama | $33,070 | $15.90 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $35,742 | $17.18 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $35,333 | $16.99 |
| 51 | Maine | $34,110 | $16.40 |
Highest paying cities for autocad drafters
The highest-paying cities for autocad drafters are Garfield, NJ, Austin, TX, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garfield, NJ | $46,417 | $22.32 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $46,076 | $22.15 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $45,843 | $22.04 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $45,442 | $21.85 |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | $45,004 | $21.64 |
| 6 | Madison, WI | $44,651 | $21.47 |
| 7 | Clarksville, TN | $42,561 | $20.46 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $41,712 | $20.05 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $41,074 | $19.75 |
| 10 | Columbia, SC | $40,768 | $19.60 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $40,732 | $19.58 |
| 12 | Greensboro, NC | $40,663 | $19.55 |
| 13 | Erie, PA | $40,405 | $19.43 |
| 14 | Tucson, AZ | $40,290 | $19.37 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $40,184 | $19.32 |
| 16 | Westerville, OH | $38,535 | $18.53 |
| 17 | Canton, GA | $38,241 | $18.39 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $38,038 | $18.29 |
| 19 | Overland Park, KS | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| 20 | Tulsa, OK | $37,194 | $17.88 |
Autocad drafter salary details
An autocad drafter's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $55,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an autocad drafter's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| Average | $41,984 | $3,499 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying autocad drafter jobs
The highest paying types of autocad drafters 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 |
| Architectural Internship | $53,914 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 57,981 |
| Architectural Designer | $59,122 | $4,927 | $28.42 | 54,358 |
| Structural Designer | $63,273 | $5,273 | $30.42 | 51,432 |
| Drafting Internship | $42,284 | $3,524 | $20.33 | 51,193 |
Top companies hiring autocad drafters now:
Which companies pay autocad drafters the most?
Autocad drafter salaries at GPAC and Jacobs Engineering Group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average autocad drafter salary at companies like Apple and Carrier are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GPAC | $50,717 | $24.38 |
| 2 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $49,537 | $23.82 |
| 3 | Apple | $48,856 | $23.49 |
| 4 | Carrier | $48,178 | $23.16 |
| 5 | CMC Motocross | $46,718 | $22.46 |
| 6 | CyberCoders | $46,588 | $22.40 |
| 7 | Black & Veatch | $46,074 | $22.15 |
| 8 | Cash-Wa Distributing | $45,088 | $21.68 |
| 9 | EFCO | $44,562 | $21.42 |
| 10 | Cenergy International Services | $44,521 | $21.40 |
| 11 | Olsson | $44,202 | $21.25 |
| 12 | Volt Information Sciences | $44,087 | $21.20 |
| 13 | ManpowerGroup | $42,804 | $20.58 |
| 14 | Morrow | $42,236 | $20.31 |
| 15 | CSW Industrials | $42,173 | $20.28 |
| 16 | Universal Engineering Sciences | $42,169 | $20.27 |
| 17 | Jacobs Enterprises | $42,165 | $20.27 |
| 18 | BOWA | $42,137 | $20.26 |
| 19 | Parsons | $42,132 | $20.26 |
| 20 | APTIM | $42,121 | $20.25 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Autocad Drafter salary by industry
The average autocad drafter salary varies across industries:
- The average autocad drafter salary in the government industry is $45,111, the highest of any industry.
- The average autocad drafter salary in the finance industry is $43,483.
- Autocad drafters in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $40,879, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for autocad drafters
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $45,111 | $21.69 |
| 2 | Professional | $43,483 | $20.91 |
| 3 | Construction | $43,384 | $20.86 |
| 4 | Retail | $42,220 | $20.30 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $40,879 | $19.65 |
High paying autocad drafter jobs
Autocad drafter salary trends
The average autocad drafter salary has risen by $7,484 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average autocad drafter earned $34,500 annually, but today, they earn $41,984 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for autocad drafters over the last decade.
Compare autocad drafter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average autocad drafter salary over time
Compare autocad drafter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Autocad drafter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,000 | $20.18 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $41,100 | $19.78 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $40,100 | $19.28 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $38,600 | $18.56 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $37,700 | $18.13 | +1.8% |
Recently added autocad drafter salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Trades Partners | Autocad Millwork Drafter | Suncook, NH | 06/27/2025 | $62,610 |
| Actalent | Autocad Drafter | Phoenix, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $52,175 |
| Artisan Stoneworks | Autocad Drafter | Deer Park, NY | 06/27/2025 | $73,045 |
| Akkodis | Autocad Drafter | Dallas, TX | 06/25/2025 | $52,175 |
| Ampirical Solutions | Autocad Drafter | Duluth, GA | 06/20/2025 | $41,740 |
| Actalent | Autocad Drafter | Saint Cloud, MN | 06/20/2025 | $52,175 |
| Opti Staffing Group | Autocad Drafter | Milton, WA | 06/19/2025 | $54,262 |
| Bluegate | Autocad Drafter-(IN Person) | Miami Gardens, FL | 06/16/2025 | $37,566 |
| Actalent | Autocad Drafter | Overland Park, KS | 06/16/2025 | $35,479 |
| Actalent | Autocad Drafter/Designer | Union Grove, WI | 06/14/2025 | $41,740 |
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