The average salary for a drafter in the United States is around $66,150 per year.
Avg Salary
Drafters earn an average yearly salary of $66,150.
Wages typically start from $46,260 and go up to $99,710.
3% above national average Updated in 2025
Drafter earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level drafter earnings begin at:
$47.94 per hour
$99,710 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level drafter earnings begin at:
$38.88 per hour
$80,870 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level drafter earnings begin at:
$31.80 per hour
$66,150 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level drafter earnings begin at:
$26.76 per hour
$55,650 per year
10th percentile
Starting level drafter earnings begin at:
$22.24 per hour
$46,260 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Drafter salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $97,880 |
| Massachusetts | $76,990 |
| California | $76,520 |
| Alaska | $76,470 |
| Colorado | $76,370 |
| Connecticut | $76,290 |
| New York | $76,260 |
| Maryland | $75,180 |
| Georgia | $74,940 |
| Oregon | $74,000 |
| Delaware | $73,040 |
| Washington | $73,000 |
| Rhode Island | $71,700 |
| Minnesota | $70,680 |
| Tennessee | $69,220 |
| Nevada | $67,000 |
| Maine | $66,200 |
| Montana | $65,750 |
| West Virginia | $65,640 |
| New Hampshire | $65,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,800 |
| Arizona | $64,750 |
| North Dakota | $64,720 |
| South Carolina | $64,680 |
| Utah | $64,290 |
| Iowa | $64,220 |
| Wyoming | $63,730 |
| Hawaii | $63,510 |
| Virginia | $63,450 |
| Texas | $63,320 |
| New Jersey | $62,960 |
| Wisconsin | $62,930 |
| North Carolina | $62,750 |
| Florida | $62,640 |
| Arkansas | $62,420 |
| Kansas | $62,220 |
| Oklahoma | $62,140 |
| Missouri | $61,940 |
| Idaho | $61,840 |
| Nebraska | $61,550 |
| Ohio | $61,450 |
| Louisiana | $61,010 |
| Vermont | $61,000 |
| Kentucky | $60,120 |
| Indiana | $60,000 |
| Mississippi | $59,920 |
| Michigan | $58,330 |
| Illinois | $58,240 |
| Alabama | $57,100 |
| South Dakota | $52,470 |
| New Mexico | $50,230 |
| Guam | $47,120 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,000 |
How do drafter salaries compare to similar careers?
Drafters earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than interior designers but more than real estate agents.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Interior designer salary | $67K |
| Pipefitter salary | $64K |
| Plumber salary | $64K |
| Crane operator salary | $68K |
| Electrician salary | $63K |
| Drafter salary | $66K |
| Industrial engineering technician salary | $66K |
| Graphic designer salary | $63K |
| Ironworker salary | $63K |
| Real estate agent salary | $53K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)