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The average salary for a Detail Drafter is approximately $44,472 per year, or around $21 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, more experienced drafters may earn salaries exceeding this average, particularly in high-demand regions.
Analyzing the average salary by state reveals considerable differences. States with a higher cost of living, such as California and New York, typically offer higher salaries for detail drafters. Conversely, states with lower living costs may provide salaries closer to the national average.
Cities like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle rank among the highest for detail drafter salaries. These urban areas often host large engineering and architectural firms, leading to increased demand and compensation for skilled drafters.
Detail drafters are essential in industries such as manufacturing, construction, and engineering. With a growing need for skilled professionals in these sectors, pursuing a career as a detail drafter can lead to stable employment and opportunities for advancement.
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The average detail drafter salary in California, New Mexico, and Arkansas are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average detail drafter salary states are Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $45,967 | $22.10 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $50,806 | $24.43 |
| 3 | Ohio | $46,935 | $22.56 |
| 4 | Arkansas | $49,551 | $23.82 |
| 5 | California | $51,270 | $24.65 |
| 6 | Arizona | $43,877 | $21.09 |
| 7 | Florida | $44,176 | $21.24 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $47,905 | $23.03 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $43,630 | $20.98 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $45,737 | $21.99 |
| 11 | Texas | $43,584 | $20.95 |
| 12 | Delaware | $45,857 | $22.05 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $46,056 | $22.14 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $46,965 | $22.58 |
| 15 | Michigan | $45,704 | $21.97 |
| 16 | South Carolina | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $46,244 | $22.23 |
| 18 | Iowa | $40,961 | $19.69 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $43,754 | $21.04 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $40,653 | $19.54 |
| 21 | Montana | $41,746 | $20.07 |
| 22 | Kansas | $40,866 | $19.65 |
| 23 | Colorado | $43,038 | $20.69 |
| 24 | New York | $45,472 | $21.86 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $42,927 | $20.64 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $40,523 | $19.48 |
| 27 | Vermont | $44,181 | $21.24 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $42,179 | $20.28 |
| 29 | Missouri | $41,354 | $19.88 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $43,600 | $20.96 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $41,265 | $19.84 |
| 32 | Nevada | $41,541 | $19.97 |
| 33 | Illinois | $42,470 | $20.42 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $47,413 | $22.79 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $45,226 | $21.74 |
| 36 | Alabama | $38,833 | $18.67 |
| 37 | Utah | $40,265 | $19.36 |
| 38 | Alaska | $44,261 | $21.28 |
| 39 | New Jersey | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $38,574 | $18.55 |
| 41 | Oregon | $38,819 | $18.66 |
| 42 | Minnesota | $38,682 | $18.60 |
| 43 | Maryland | $40,452 | $19.45 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $39,137 | $18.82 |
| 45 | Indiana | $38,838 | $18.67 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $37,231 | $17.90 |
| 47 | New Hampshire | $40,695 | $19.56 |
| 48 | Maine | $36,358 | $17.48 |
| 49 | Idaho | $35,096 | $16.87 |
| 50 | Washington | $36,016 | $17.32 |
| 51 | Virginia | $37,600 | $18.08 |
The highest-paying cities for detail drafters are Modesto, CA, Little Rock, AR, and Cleveland, OH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto, CA | $51,624 | $24.82 |
| 2 | Little Rock, AR | $49,633 | $23.86 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $47,930 | $23.04 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $45,913 | $22.07 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $43,899 | $21.11 |
| 6 | Tempe, AZ | $43,876 | $21.09 |
| 7 | York, PA | $43,586 | $20.95 |
| 8 | Vineland, NJ | $43,457 | $20.89 |
| 9 | Windsor, CT | $42,896 | $20.62 |
| 10 | Greensboro, NC | $41,450 | $19.93 |
| 11 | Kansas City, MO | $41,051 | $19.74 |
| 12 | Waukesha, WI | $40,778 | $19.60 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $40,610 | $19.52 |
| 14 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,534 | $19.01 |
| 15 | Montgomery, AL | $38,959 | $18.73 |
| 16 | McMinnville, OR | $38,824 | $18.67 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,701 | $18.61 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $38,648 | $18.58 |
| 19 | Salem, VA | $35,911 | $17.26 |
| 20 | Caldwell, ID | $35,228 | $16.94 |
A detail drafter's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $59,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $44,472 | $3,706 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
The highest paying types of detail drafters are tool design checker, design checker, and die designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Aided Design Designer | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 92,503 |
| Design Checker | $75,126 | $6,260 | $36.12 | 42,876 |
| Draftsman | $42,908 | $3,576 | $20.63 | 3,143 |
| Drafting Engineer | $50,871 | $4,239 | $24.46 | 8,823 |
| Detailer/Designer | $64,845 | $5,404 | $31.18 | 51,517 |
| Computer Aided Drafter | $43,520 | $3,627 | $20.92 | 16,907 |
Top companies hiring detail drafters now:
Detail drafter salaries at Hendrick Manufacturing and Northrop Grumman are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average detail drafter salary at companies like Steel Dynamics and EMCOR Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hendrick Manufacturing | $55,379 | $26.62 |
| 2 | Northrop Grumman | $53,646 | $25.79 |
| 3 | Steel Dynamics | $51,838 | $24.92 |
| 4 | EMCOR Group | $51,574 | $24.80 |
| 5 | Brochsteins | $49,857 | $23.97 |
| 6 | Big-D Construction | $48,909 | $23.51 |
| 7 | Belcan | $47,487 | $22.83 |
| 8 | Nucor | $44,796 | $21.54 |
| 9 | Steward Machine | $44,582 | $21.43 |
| 10 | Blaine Event Services | $44,323 | $21.31 |
| 11 | Kelly Services | $43,159 | $20.75 |
| 12 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $43,140 | $20.74 |
| 13 | Whirlwind Steel Buildings | $40,794 | $19.61 |
| 14 | R.M. Schulte & Associates | $40,231 | $19.34 |
| 15 | Express Employment Indy South | $39,685 | $19.08 |
The average detail drafter salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $47,665 | $22.92 |
| 2 | Construction | $46,490 | $22.35 |
| 3 | Professional | $44,366 | $21.33 |
| 4 | Internet | $44,300 | $21.30 |
| 5 | Education | $44,059 | $21.18 |
The average detail drafter salary has risen by $6,922 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average detail drafter earned $37,550 annually, but today, they earn $44,472 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for detail drafters over the last decade.
Compare detail drafter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare detail drafter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $44,500 | $21.38 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $43,500 | $20.94 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $42,700 | $20.52 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $42,100 | $20.23 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $41,600 | $19.99 | +1.8% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Metals | In-Person Drafter/Detailer With | Frederick, MD | 06/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| Nucor Corporation | Drafter/Detailer | Chemung, NY | 06/20/2025 | $59,900 |
| Nv5 | Bridge Drafter/Detailer | Seattle, WA | 05/16/2025 | $70,248 |
| Nv5 Global, Inc. | Bridge Drafter/Detailer | Seattle, WA | 05/15/2025 | $70,248 |
| Wabtec | Detail Drafter 4 | Erie, PA | 04/28/2025 | $50,088 |
| Selectek, Inc. | Drafter/Detailer | Braselton, GA | 03/05/2025 | $41,740 |
| Wabtec | Detail Drafter 4 | Erie, PA | 02/25/2025 | $50,088 |
| Selectek, Inc. | Drafter/Detailer | Braselton, GA | 02/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Actalent | Detail Drafter | Carol Stream, IL | 02/19/2025 | $52,175 |
| Big D Metalworks | Detailer/Drafter | Dallas, TX | 11/21/2024 | $30,000 |
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