Drafter earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level drafter earnings begin at:

$49.12 per hour

$102,180 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level drafter earnings begin at:

$40.35 per hour

$83,920 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level drafter earnings begin at:

$35.10 per hour

$73,000 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level drafter earnings begin at:

$29.34 per hour

$61,040 per year

10th percentile

Starting level drafter earnings begin at:

$26.92 per hour

$55,990 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 Washington. On average, they make less than graphic designers but more than event planners.

Career Median Salary
Graphic designer salary $73K
Machine assembler salary $73K
Remote sensing technician salary $74K
Quality control inspector salary $74K
Locomotive engineer salary $74K
Drafter salary $73K
Garbage collector salary $75K
Machinist salary $66K
Wedding planner salary $66K
Event planner salary $66K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)