Drafter earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level drafter earnings begin at:

$38.69 per hour

$80,480 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level drafter earnings begin at:

$34.80 per hour

$72,390 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level drafter earnings begin at:

$29.16 per hour

$60,640 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level drafter earnings begin at:

$23.41 per hour

$48,700 per year

10th percentile

Starting level drafter earnings begin at:

$22.50 per hour

$46,810 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Drafter salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Alaska $76,470
Massachusetts $62,880
District of Columbia $62,230
Maryland $62,230
California $61,820
Illinois $61,760
Ohio $61,650
Colorado $61,610
Washington $61,170
Connecticut $60,980
Hawaii $60,980
New Jersey $60,980
New York $60,850
Vermont $60,780
Nevada $60,670
Minnesota $60,640
Rhode Island $60,460
Pennsylvania $60,380
Georgia $60,360
Arizona $60,220
New Hampshire $60,220
South Carolina $59,950
Delaware $59,330
Oregon $59,330
Wisconsin $59,330
Iowa $59,240
Texas $59,110
Tennessee $58,730
North Carolina $58,410
Virginia $58,110
West Virginia $57,780
Maine $57,260
Missouri $56,400
Louisiana $55,760
Indiana $54,830
New Mexico $49,930
Alabama $49,770
Arkansas $49,320
Oklahoma $49,250
Florida $48,720
Montana $48,680
North Dakota $48,670
Nebraska $48,670
Wyoming $48,670
Kansas $48,460
Utah $48,460
Michigan $48,410
Kentucky $47,840
Idaho $47,600
Guam $47,120
Mississippi $46,880
South Dakota $44,680
Puerto Rico $30,000

How do drafter salaries compare to similar careers?

Drafters earn about the same as related careers in Minnesota. On average, they make less than non-destructive testing specialists but more than wedding planners.

Career Median Salary
Non-Destructive testing specialist salary $60K
Industrial engineering technician salary $61K
Rigger salary $49K
Audio visual technician salary $58K
Interior designer salary $62K
Drafter salary $61K
Drywall installer salary $65K
Graphic designer salary $60K
Cement mason salary $60K
Wedding planner salary $60K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)