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.
1% 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 |
| 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 |
| Alaska | $57,680 |
| Alabama | $57,100 |
| South Dakota | $52,470 |
| New Mexico | $50,230 |
| Guam | $43,190 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,760 |
How do drafter salaries compare to similar careers?
Drafters earn 12% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than web developers but more than technical support specialists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Web developer salary | $93K |
| Technical writer salary | $90K |
| Online merchant salary | $83K |
| Industrial designer salary | $84K |
| Audio engineer salary | $73K |
| Drafter salary | $66K |
| Graphic designer salary | $63K |
| Broadcast and sound engineering technician salary | $60K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $62K |
| Technical support specialist salary | $62K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)