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Structural drafter salary
Average structural drafter salary
$48,536
Understanding Structural Drafter Salaries
A Structural Drafter plays a vital role in the construction process by creating detailed drawings and plans for structures. According to recent data, the average salary for this position is around $48,536 annually, which translates to approximately $23 per hour. However, salaries can vary widely based on several factors.
Impact of Experience Level
Entry-level structural drafters may start at lower salaries, while those with several years of experience can command significantly higher wages. For instance, drafters with 5-10 years of experience can expect earnings closer to $60,000, showcasing the value of gaining expertise in this field.
Geographic Variations
Location also plays a critical role in determining salary. States with high demand for construction and engineering professionals, such as California and New York, often offer higher salaries. For example, structural drafters in California may earn upwards of $60,000, reflecting the state's high cost of living and robust job market.
Career Opportunities
With the construction industry continually evolving, opportunities for structural drafters are expanding. Companies are increasingly seeking skilled drafters to assist in complex projects, making this a promising career path. By leveraging experience and seeking roles in high-paying states, drafters can maximize their earning potential and advance their careers.
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Where can a Structural Drafter earn more?
Structural drafter salaries by experience level
Structural drafter salary estimates from across the web
Average structural drafter salary by state
The average structural drafter salary in California, Illinois, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average structural drafter salary states are Idaho, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for structural drafters
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $52,299 | $25.14 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $51,621 | $24.82 |
| 3 | California | $53,533 | $25.74 |
| 4 | Texas | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| 5 | Arizona | $46,721 | $22.46 |
| 6 | Oregon | $47,846 | $23.00 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $49,296 | $23.70 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $46,619 | $22.41 |
| 9 | Maryland | $51,344 | $24.68 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $46,841 | $22.52 |
| 11 | Vermont | $49,492 | $23.79 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $49,697 | $23.89 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $55,899 | $26.87 |
| 15 | Montana | $45,712 | $21.98 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $46,204 | $22.21 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $46,453 | $22.33 |
| 18 | Missouri | $46,295 | $22.26 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $44,644 | $21.46 |
| 20 | Indiana | $47,122 | $22.65 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $45,735 | $21.99 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $47,748 | $22.96 |
| 23 | Washington | $47,468 | $22.82 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $47,911 | $23.03 |
| 25 | Colorado | $46,523 | $22.37 |
| 26 | Nevada | $45,066 | $21.67 |
| 27 | New York | $49,123 | $23.62 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $45,415 | $21.83 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $46,355 | $22.29 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $45,603 | $21.92 |
| 31 | Ohio | $44,250 | $21.27 |
| 32 | Iowa | $42,413 | $20.39 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $43,759 | $21.04 |
| 34 | Florida | $43,708 | $21.01 |
| 35 | Delaware | $46,006 | $22.12 |
| 36 | Virginia | $45,461 | $21.86 |
| 37 | Georgia | $41,812 | $20.10 |
| 38 | Kansas | $40,679 | $19.56 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $48,189 | $23.17 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $42,173 | $20.28 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $42,112 | $20.25 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $43,932 | $21.12 |
| 43 | Idaho | $39,791 | $19.13 |
| 44 | Maine | $38,254 | $18.39 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $41,458 | $19.93 |
| 46 | Utah | $39,360 | $18.92 |
| 47 | Alabama | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| 48 | Alaska | $40,131 | $19.29 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $39,661 | $19.07 |
| 50 | Michigan | $40,221 | $19.34 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $39,753 | $19.11 |
Highest paying cities for structural drafters
The highest-paying cities for structural drafters are San Francisco, CA, Rockford, IL, and Frederick, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $54,823 | $26.36 |
| 2 | Rockford, IL | $52,181 | $25.09 |
| 3 | Frederick, MD | $51,209 | $24.62 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $48,226 | $23.19 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $47,600 | $22.88 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $46,731 | $22.47 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $46,695 | $22.45 |
| 8 | Greenville, NC | $46,560 | $22.38 |
| 9 | Cheyenne, WY | $46,523 | $22.37 |
| 10 | Englewood, CO | $46,491 | $22.35 |
| 11 | Greenville, SC | $46,374 | $22.30 |
| 12 | Harrisburg, PA | $46,173 | $22.20 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $46,113 | $22.17 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $44,684 | $21.48 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $44,076 | $21.19 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $42,179 | $20.28 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $41,745 | $20.07 |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $41,557 | $19.98 |
| 19 | Lenexa, KS | $40,772 | $19.60 |
| 20 | Daphne, AL | $37,428 | $17.99 |
Structural drafter salary details
A structural drafter's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $64,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a structural drafter's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $48,536 | $4,045 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying structural drafter jobs
The highest paying types of structural drafters are architectural technician, structural designer, and architectural designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truss Designer | $50,866 | $4,239 | $24.45 | 45,424 |
| Drafting Internship | $42,284 | $3,524 | $20.33 | 51,193 |
| Autocad Designer | $55,786 | $4,649 | $26.82 | 46,459 |
| Design Drafter | $50,021 | $4,168 | $24.05 | 39,125 |
| Computer Aided Drafter | $43,520 | $3,627 | $20.92 | 16,907 |
| Architectural Internship | $53,914 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 57,981 |
Top companies hiring structural drafters now:
Which companies pay structural drafters the most?
Structural drafter salaries at Jacobs Engineering Group and Fluor are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average structural drafter salary at companies like CyberCoders and PEAK Technical Staffing USA are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $56,010 | $26.93 |
| 2 | Fluor Corporation | $53,547 | $25.74 |
| 3 | CyberCoders | $50,394 | $24.23 |
| 4 | PEAK Technical Staffing USA | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| 5 | Jacobs Enterprises | $48,472 | $23.30 |
| 6 | Ryan Homes | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| 7 | POWER Engineers | $47,786 | $22.97 |
| 8 | PUMA | $47,709 | $22.94 |
| 9 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| 10 | Aerotek | $46,158 | $22.19 |
| 11 | NVR | $44,854 | $21.56 |
| 12 | R.M. Schulte & Associates | $44,463 | $21.38 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Structural Drafter salary by industry
The average structural drafter salary varies across industries:
- The average structural drafter salary in the energy industry is $51,506, the highest of any industry.
- The average structural drafter salary in the finance industry is $50,548.
- Structural drafters in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $48,206, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for structural drafters
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $51,506 | $24.76 |
| 2 | Construction | $50,548 | $24.30 |
| 3 | Professional | $49,972 | $24.02 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $48,206 | $23.18 |
High paying structural drafter jobs
Structural drafter salary trends
The average structural drafter salary has risen by $8,651 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average structural drafter earned $39,884 annually, but today, they earn $48,536 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for structural drafters over the last decade.
Compare structural drafter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average structural drafter salary over time
Compare structural drafter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Structural drafter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,500 | $23.33 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $47,600 | $22.86 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $46,400 | $22.29 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $44,600 | $21.46 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $43,600 | $20.96 | +1.8% |
Recently added structural drafter salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wendel LLC | Structural Drafter | Albany, NY | 06/16/2025 | $62,610 |
| Technipower | Architectural/Structural Drafter | Phoenix, AZ | 05/25/2025 | $52,175 |
| Actalent | Structural Drafter | Phoenix, AZ | 05/22/2025 | $41,740 |
| Gannett Fleming | Civil/Structural Drafter (Transmission Line) | Monroeville, PA | 05/05/2025 | $50,000 |
| Gannett Fleming | Civil/Structural)Transmission Line Drafter | Pittsburgh, PA | 04/30/2025 | $50,000 |
| Action Group Staffing | Structural Drafter | Tulsa, OK | 04/29/2025 | $56,349 |
| Actalent | Residential Structural Drafter | Quakertown, PA | 04/26/2025 | $55,000 |
| Actalent | Structural Drafter | Kaukauna, WI | 04/21/2025 | $43,827 |
| Actalent | Architectural/Structural Drafter | Kansas City, KS | 03/29/2025 | $48,001 |
| Actalent | Structural Drafter | Quakertown, PA | 03/18/2025 | $55,000 |
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