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Drafting engineer salary
Average drafting engineer salary
$50,871
Average Drafting Engineer Salary
The average salary for a Drafting Engineer stands at $50,871 annually, translating to about $24 per hour. This figure reflects the combined influence of various factors such as educational background, geographical location, and years of experience in the field. For instance, entry-level positions may start at a lower salary, while seasoned professionals can command higher wages depending on their expertise and the complexity of their projects.
State-Specific Salary Insights
Locations play a crucial role in determining salary. Drafting Engineers in states such as California and Texas typically see higher compensation due to increased demand and cost of living. Additionally, specialized industries like aerospace and architecture often offer better pay scales compared to traditional manufacturing roles.
Career Growth Opportunities
With the right skills and experience, Drafting Engineers can advance to supervisory or managerial positions, further enhancing their earning potential. Continuous professional development, such as certifications or advanced degrees, can also lead to lucrative opportunities in this evolving field.
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Where can a Drafting Engineer earn more?
Drafting engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average drafting engineer salary by state
The average drafting engineer salary in California, Hawaii, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average drafting engineer salary states are Tennessee, Wyoming, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for drafting engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $63,446 | $30.50 |
| 2 | Delaware | $53,082 | $25.52 |
| 3 | Michigan | $51,872 | $24.94 |
| 4 | Ohio | $53,682 | $25.81 |
| 5 | Arkansas | $54,244 | $26.08 |
| 6 | Georgia | $51,657 | $24.84 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $55,945 | $26.90 |
| 8 | Texas | $49,902 | $23.99 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $52,941 | $25.45 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $55,410 | $26.64 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $51,566 | $24.79 |
| 12 | New York | $51,569 | $24.79 |
| 13 | Florida | $50,224 | $24.15 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $50,127 | $24.10 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $51,172 | $24.60 |
| 16 | Arizona | $48,472 | $23.30 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $50,420 | $24.24 |
| 18 | Alaska | $56,319 | $27.08 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $57,639 | $27.71 |
| 20 | Oregon | $48,354 | $23.25 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $50,102 | $24.09 |
| 22 | Colorado | $48,654 | $23.39 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $48,646 | $23.39 |
| 24 | Nevada | $48,401 | $23.27 |
| 25 | Utah | $46,964 | $22.58 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $47,682 | $22.92 |
| 27 | Montana | $48,526 | $23.33 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $48,119 | $23.13 |
| 29 | Illinois | $48,198 | $23.17 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $46,386 | $22.30 |
| 31 | Maryland | $47,146 | $22.67 |
| 32 | Iowa | $46,506 | $22.36 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $48,204 | $23.18 |
| 34 | New Jersey | $49,256 | $23.68 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $48,382 | $23.26 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $47,276 | $22.73 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $46,846 | $22.52 |
| 38 | Virginia | $44,583 | $21.43 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $45,508 | $21.88 |
| 40 | Washington | $44,819 | $21.55 |
| 41 | Alabama | $43,157 | $20.75 |
| 42 | Indiana | $43,937 | $21.12 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $42,648 | $20.50 |
| 44 | Kansas | $45,284 | $21.77 |
| 45 | Missouri | $45,805 | $22.02 |
| 46 | Vermont | $41,806 | $20.10 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $42,972 | $20.66 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $44,056 | $21.18 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $39,902 | $19.18 |
| 50 | Idaho | $42,040 | $20.21 |
| 51 | Maine | $34,029 | $16.36 |
Highest paying cities for drafting engineers
The highest-paying cities for drafting engineers are Union City, CA, Anchorage, AK, and Rio Rancho, NM.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union City, CA | $67,621 | $32.51 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $56,370 | $27.10 |
| 3 | Rio Rancho, NM | $55,668 | $26.76 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $53,549 | $25.74 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $52,177 | $25.09 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $51,594 | $24.80 |
| 7 | West Palm Beach, FL | $51,046 | $24.54 |
| 8 | Alvin, TX | $50,744 | $24.40 |
| 9 | North Charleston, SC | $50,384 | $24.22 |
| 10 | York, PA | $50,291 | $24.18 |
| 11 | Englewood, CO | $48,700 | $23.41 |
| 12 | Sioux Falls, SD | $48,483 | $23.31 |
| 13 | Buffalo, NY | $47,778 | $22.97 |
| 14 | New Britain, CT | $47,338 | $22.76 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $47,215 | $22.70 |
| 16 | Manassas, VA | $44,845 | $21.56 |
| 17 | Chattanooga, TN | $43,176 | $20.76 |
Drafting engineer salary details
A drafting engineer's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a drafting engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $50,871 | $4,239 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying drafting engineer jobs
The highest paying types of drafting engineers are engineer, design engineer, and tool design checker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Aided Design Designer | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 92,503 |
| Mechanical Design Drafter | $58,371 | $4,864 | $28.06 | 54,189 |
| Computer Aided Drafter | $43,520 | $3,627 | $20.92 | 16,907 |
| Detailer/Designer | $64,845 | $5,404 | $31.18 | 51,517 |
| Autocad Drafter | $41,984 | $3,499 | $20.18 | 2,429 |
| Design Drafter | $50,021 | $4,168 | $24.05 | 39,125 |
Top companies hiring drafting engineers now:
Which companies pay drafting engineers the most?
Drafting engineer salaries at Huitt-Zollars and Bensonwood are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average drafting engineer salary at companies like Siemens and Curtiss-Wright are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huitt-Zollars | $65,292 | $31.39 |
| 2 | Bensonwood | $64,951 | $31.23 |
| 3 | Siemens | $60,999 | $29.33 |
| 4 | Curtiss-Wright | $60,311 | $29.00 |
| 5 | GPAC | $58,132 | $27.95 |
| 6 | Parsons | $56,563 | $27.19 |
| 7 | Intertek | $52,559 | $25.27 |
| 8 | Ukpeagvik IOoOupiat Corporation | $49,398 | $23.75 |
| 9 | E & S Inc | $46,069 | $22.15 |
| 10 | EN Engineering | $45,961 | $22.10 |
| 11 | Duo-Gard | $45,851 | $22.04 |
| 12 | Tower Glass do Brasil | $45,665 | $21.95 |
| 13 | Buffalo Wire Works | $45,315 | $21.79 |
| 14 | Polamer Precision | $44,965 | $21.62 |
| 15 | The Mannik & Smith Group | $44,584 | $21.43 |
| 16 | ITW | $41,440 | $19.92 |
| 17 | Air Methods | $38,470 | $18.50 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Drafting Engineer salary by industry
The average drafting engineer salary varies across industries:
- The average drafting engineer salary in the utilities industry is $63,683, the highest of any industry.
- The average drafting engineer salary in the finance industry is $51,823.
- Drafting engineers in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $47,492, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for drafting engineers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utilities | $63,683 | $30.62 |
| 2 | Technology | $51,823 | $24.91 |
| 3 | Health Care | $49,386 | $23.74 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $48,701 | $23.41 |
| 5 | Construction | $48,693 | $23.41 |
| 6 | Energy | $48,653 | $23.39 |
| 7 | Hospitality | $48,307 | $23.22 |
| 8 | Professional | $47,562 | $22.87 |
| 9 | Transportation | $47,492 | $22.83 |
High paying drafting engineer jobs
Drafting engineer salary trends
The average drafting engineer salary has risen by $7,918 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average drafting engineer earned $42,953 annually, but today, they earn $50,871 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for drafting engineers over the last decade.
Compare drafting engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average drafting engineer salary over time
Compare drafting engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Drafting engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,900 | $24.46 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $49,800 | $23.95 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $48,800 | $23.47 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $48,100 | $23.14 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | $47,600 | $22.87 | +1.8% |
Recently added drafting engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ja Eisch Commercial Casework Specialist | Drafting Engineer | Freedom, WI | 06/27/2025 | $50,000 |
| Cityside Fiber | Engineering Drafter | Irvine, CA | 06/27/2025 | $66,784 |
| General Dynamics | Engineering Drafter | Chesapeake, VA | 06/22/2025 | $63,173 |
| Manpowergroup | Engineering Drafter | San Antonio, TX | 06/20/2025 | $41,740 |
| NES Associates | Engineering Drafter | Chesapeake, VA | 06/20/2025 | $63,173 |
| Stepan Company | Engineering Drafter | Elwood, IL | 06/19/2025 | $57,000 |
| PD Instore | Drafting Engineer | Minneapolis, MN | 06/14/2025 | $65,000 |
| Graham & Associates | Drafter-Civil Engineering-Civil 3D | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/10/2025 | $41,740 |
| Graham & Associates | Drafter-Civil Engineering-Civil 3D | Dallas, TX | 06/10/2025 | $70,000 |
| Major League Baseball Players Association | Technical Drafting Engineer | New York, NY | 05/26/2025 | $93,915 |
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