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Salary comparison

Electrical and Electronics Drafters vs. Industrial Engineers: Who Earns More?

Industrial Engineerss out-earn Electrical and Electronics Drafterss by $26K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Electrical and Electronics Drafterss land at $76,870 and Industrial Engineerss at $102,440. The education gap is real: electrical and electronics drafter programs typically require bachelor's degree, while industrial engineer programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Electrical and Electronics Drafterss is New Hampshire ($102,070); for Industrial Engineerss it's Alaska ($156,510).

Electrical and Electronics Drafters
Industrial Engineers
Median salary
$76,870
$102,440
Hourly rate
$36.96/hr
$49.25/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$50,040
$74,370
Senior level (90th %)
$120,290
$159,860
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
17,920
365,740
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Engineering
Engineering
Top-paying state
New Hampshire
Alaska

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Electrical and Electronics Drafters median pay.

State
Electrical and Electronics Drafters
Industrial Engineers
New Mexico
$101,330
$128,090
Massachusetts
$87,290
$109,420
Texas
$80,620
$104,560
Utah
$79,360
$103,940
Colorado
$79,300
$109,750
California
$78,310
$124,600
Oregon
$78,170
$128,290
Maryland
$75,680
$119,930
Arizona
$73,080
$108,280
Washington
$72,250
$129,050
Hawaii
$68,050
$123,800
Connecticut
$66,980
$104,160
Wyoming
$64,690
$122,070
Delaware
$63,460
$120,190
Louisiana
$62,550
$122,920

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Electrical and Electronics Drafterss or Industrial Engineerss?

Industrial Engineerss earn more nationally. The median is $76,870 for Electrical and Electronics Drafterss versus $102,440 for Industrial Engineerss, a difference of $26K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Electrical and Electronics Drafters or Industrial Engineers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Electrical and Electronics Drafters or Industrial Engineers?

Electrical and Electronics Drafters typically requires bachelor's degree. Industrial Engineers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Electrical and Electronics Drafterss get paid the most?

New Hampshire is the top-paying state for Electrical and Electronics Drafterss at $102,070/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Electrical and Electronics Drafters vs. Industrial Engineers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New Mexico, Electrical and Electronics Drafterss earn $101,330 vs. $128,090 for Industrial Engineerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Electrical and Electronics Drafters salary breakdownView →Full Industrial Engineers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Electrical and Electronics Drafterss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Industrial Engineerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a electrical and electronics draftersGuide →How to become a industrial engineersGuide →