Drafter earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level drafter earnings begin at:

$39.08 per hour

$81,290 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level drafter earnings begin at:

$35.68 per hour

$74,210 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level drafter earnings begin at:

$29.03 per hour

$60,380 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level drafter earnings begin at:

$22.93 per hour

$47,690 per year

10th percentile

Starting level drafter earnings begin at:

$17.96 per hour

$37,360 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 Pennsylvania. On average, they make less than building inspectors but more than tile and marble setters.

Career Median Salary
Building inspector salary $61K
Interior designer salary $62K
Power engineer salary $61K
Brickmason salary $58K
Drafter salary $60K
Ironworker salary $49K
Crane operator salary $56K
Pipelayer salary $59K
Plasterer salary $59K
Tile and marble setter salary $57K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)