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Draftsman/designer salary
Average draftsman/designer salary
$52,529
Draftsman/Designer Salary Overview
The average salary for a draftsman/designer is approximately $52,529 per year, translating to around $25 per hour. These figures can vary based on factors such as location, industry, and years of experience.
Salary by Location
In states like California and New York, draftsmen and designers often earn higher wages compared to the national average. For instance, cities like San Francisco and New York City are known for their competitive salaries in this field.
Experience Matters
Entry-level positions typically start lower, but as professionals gain experience, salaries can increase significantly. The highest paying jobs often require specialized skills or advanced degrees.
Job Opportunities
As the demand for skilled draftsmen/designers continues to grow, various industries are actively seeking talent. From architecture to manufacturing, opportunities abound for those looking to advance their careers.
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Where can a Draftsman/Designer earn more?
Draftsman/designer salaries by experience level
Average draftsman/designer salary by state
The highest-paying states for draftsman/designers are New Jersey, California, and Connecticut. The lowest average draftsman/designer salary states are Idaho, Wyoming, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for draftsman/designers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $66,092 | $31.77 |
| 2 | California | $64,169 | $30.85 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $58,820 | $28.28 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $68,589 | $32.98 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $61,584 | $29.61 |
| 6 | New York | $58,723 | $28.23 |
| 7 | Oregon | $55,178 | $26.53 |
| 8 | Texas | $56,212 | $27.02 |
| 9 | Arizona | $56,938 | $27.37 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $56,227 | $27.03 |
| 11 | Maryland | $58,942 | $28.34 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $53,018 | $25.49 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $54,031 | $25.98 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $58,175 | $27.97 |
| 15 | Illinois | $53,861 | $25.89 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $53,843 | $25.89 |
| 17 | Nevada | $54,706 | $26.30 |
| 18 | Ohio | $52,027 | $25.01 |
| 19 | Michigan | $49,493 | $23.79 |
| 20 | Washington | $51,696 | $24.85 |
| 21 | Delaware | $55,119 | $26.50 |
| 22 | Virginia | $52,961 | $25.46 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $52,997 | $25.48 |
| 24 | Colorado | $50,489 | $24.27 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $48,209 | $23.18 |
| 26 | Utah | $48,698 | $23.41 |
| 27 | Missouri | $50,482 | $24.27 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $48,289 | $23.22 |
| 29 | Kansas | $48,644 | $23.39 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $48,620 | $23.38 |
| 31 | Georgia | $45,052 | $21.66 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $48,319 | $23.23 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $47,369 | $22.77 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $47,571 | $22.87 |
| 36 | Vermont | $49,203 | $23.66 |
| 37 | Iowa | $46,723 | $22.46 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $56,494 | $27.16 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $44,878 | $21.58 |
| 40 | Indiana | $45,810 | $22.02 |
| 41 | Montana | $44,320 | $21.31 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $45,014 | $21.64 |
| 43 | Alabama | $43,389 | $20.86 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $44,439 | $21.36 |
| 45 | Florida | $41,585 | $19.99 |
| 46 | Alaska | $39,064 | $18.78 |
| 47 | Maine | $37,660 | $18.11 |
| 48 | Idaho | $42,746 | $20.55 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $43,352 | $20.84 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $42,286 | $20.33 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $41,305 | $19.86 |
Highest paying cities for draftsman/designers
The highest-paying cities for draftsman/designers are Washington, DC, Norwalk, CT, and San Diego, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $66,051 | $31.76 |
| 2 | Norwalk, CT | $62,490 | $30.04 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $59,309 | $28.51 |
| 4 | Georgetown, TX | $56,356 | $27.09 |
| 5 | Pawtucket, RI | $55,856 | $26.85 |
| 6 | North Las Vegas, NV | $53,647 | $25.79 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $53,559 | $25.75 |
| 8 | Mansfield, OH | $52,772 | $25.37 |
| 9 | Roanoke, VA | $50,507 | $24.28 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $48,383 | $23.26 |
| 11 | Fort Wayne, IN | $47,414 | $22.80 |
| 12 | Miami Beach, FL | $40,417 | $19.43 |
Draftsman/designer salary details
A draftsman/designer's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $89,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a draftsman/designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $52,529 | $4,377 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying draftsman/designer jobs
The highest paying types of draftsman/designers are senior designer, designer, and project designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Internship | $53,914 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 57,981 |
| Computer Aided Drafter | $43,520 | $3,627 | $20.92 | 16,907 |
| Architectural Drafter | $49,944 | $4,162 | $24.01 | 7,139 |
| Autocad Drafter | $41,984 | $3,499 | $20.18 | 2,429 |
| Architectural Draftsman | $52,382 | $4,365 | $25.18 | 5,528 |
| Computer Aided Design Designer | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 92,503 |
Top companies hiring draftsman/designers now:
Which companies pay draftsman/designers the most?
Draftsman/designer salaries at TalentBurst and Managed Staffing are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average draftsman/designer salary at companies like Randstad North America, Inc. and King Technology are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TalentBurst | $65,914 | $31.69 |
| 2 | Managed Staffing | $51,533 | $24.78 |
| 3 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $51,157 | $24.59 |
| 4 | King Technology | $50,601 | $24.33 |
| 5 | Dexter Apache Holdings, Inc. | $50,209 | $24.14 |
| 6 | Steven Winter Associates | $49,941 | $24.01 |
| 7 | All Native Systems LLC | $49,931 | $24.01 |
| 8 | Cache Valley Electric | $49,444 | $23.77 |
| 9 | Kimley-Horn | $49,114 | $23.61 |
| 10 | Huen Electric | $44,389 | $21.34 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Draftsman/Designer salary by industry
The average draftsman/designer salary varies across industries:
- The average draftsman/designer salary in the technology industry is $56,766, the highest of any industry.
- The average draftsman/designer salary in the finance industry is $56,488.
- Draftsman/designers in the finance industry earn an average salary of $46,443, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for draftsman/designers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $56,766 | $27.29 |
| 2 | Energy | $56,488 | $27.16 |
| 3 | Construction | $52,349 | $25.17 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $51,656 | $24.83 |
| 5 | Transportation | $50,351 | $24.21 |
| 6 | Retail | $47,539 | $22.86 |
| 7 | Professional | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| 8 | Finance | $46,443 | $22.33 |
High paying draftsman/designer jobs
Draftsman/designer salary trends
The average draftsman/designer salary has risen by $9,364 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average draftsman/designer earned $43,165 annually, but today, they earn $52,529 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for draftsman/designers over the last decade.
Compare draftsman/designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average draftsman/designer salary over time
Compare draftsman/designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Draftsman/designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,500 | $25.25 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $51,500 | $24.74 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $50,200 | $24.12 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $48,300 | $23.22 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $47,200 | $22.68 | +1.8% |
Recently added draftsman/designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler Staffing Partners | Draftsman/Cad Operator | Fate, TX | 06/13/2025 | $50,000 |
| MKS2 Technologies | Design Draftsman | Richmond, VA | 06/11/2025 | $56,349 |
| Wheeler Staffing Partners | Draftsman/Cad Operator | Fate, TX | 05/29/2025 | $50,000 |
| State of Indiana | Engineering Design Draftsman | Fort Wayne, IN | 03/21/2025 | $34,216 |
| Amada Global | Draftsman/Designer | Batavia, NY | 03/06/2025 | $41,740 |
| Amada Holdings Co., Ltd. | Draftsman/Designer | Buffalo, NY | 03/06/2025 | $41,740 |
| Blount Partnership | CAD Draftsman | Maryville, TN | 02/19/2025 | $36,794 |
| Nerdpower | Pv-Cad Draftsman (Overseas) | Nome, TX | 02/19/2025 | $12,000 |
| Kern Energy | Designer Draftsman | Bakersfield, CA | 02/07/2025 | $81,393 |
| State of Indiana | Engineering Design Draftsman | Fort Wayne, IN | 01/29/2025 | $34,216 |
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