Drafters, All Other Salary
The median pay for a drafters, all other in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $68,020/year ($32.7/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $109K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $73,790 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 27% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $68K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About drafters, all others
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What this looks like in Memphis
Drafters, all other pay in Memphis tracks closely to the national median, $68K locally vs. $64K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,274/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for drafters, all others in metros near Memphis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $35K | $37K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $68K | $70K |
| Chattanooga | $38K | $41K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $63K | $62K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level drafters, all others (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $109K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Drafters, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Drafters, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $78K | +23% | 350 |
| California | $73K | +16% | 1,750 |
| Wisconsin | $73K | +15% | 200 |
| Washington | $73K | +15% | 520 |
| New York | $72K | +14% | 610 |
| Massachusetts | $72K | +14% | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $71K | +11% | 70 |
| Arizona | $70K | +10% | 430 |
| Utah | $69K | +9% | 170 |
| Louisiana | $68K | +8% | 1,200 |
| Michigan | $68K | +7% | 360 |
| Mississippi | $68K | +7% | 70 |
| Colorado | $67K | +6% | 280 |
| Virginia | $67K | +6% | 170 |
| Connecticut | $67K | +5% | 140 |
| Kansas | $66K | +4% | 50 |
| Minnesota | $63K | -0% | 170 |
| Montana | $63K | -1% | 280 |
| Georgia | $62K | -2% | 550 |
| Nevada | $62K | -2% | 180 |
| Missouri | $62K | -2% | 400 |
| South Carolina | $61K | -4% | 60 |
| Iowa | $61K | -4% | 230 |
| Texas | $60K | -6% | 2,450 |
| Florida | $60K | -6% | 670 |
| Vermont | $60K | -6% | 90 |
| North Carolina | $60K | -6% | 320 |
| Oregon | $59K | -7% | 660 |
| Nebraska | $59K | -8% | 110 |
| Indiana | $59K | -8% | 50 |
| Kentucky | $58K | -9% | 50 |
| Ohio | $58K | -9% | 260 |
| Idaho | $56K | -11% | 60 |
| Maryland | $56K | -12% | 160 |
| Maine | $55K | -13% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $54K | -15% | 250 |
| Illinois | $53K | -16% | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -21% | 40 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -24% | 100 |
| Alabama | $47K | -26% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track drafters, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Memphis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a drafters, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Memphis?
Yes — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 27.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,274/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for drafters, all others in Memphis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new drafters, all others typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,486/month. At HUD’s $1,274/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is drafters, all other a high-paying job in Memphis?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $68K locally vs. $64K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Memphis compare to the national average for drafters, all others?
Memphis pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do drafters, all others make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $68,020 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,440, and experienced drafters, all others can clear $108,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,687/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 27.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a drafters, all other salary go in Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median drafters, all other salary is worth about $73,790 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do drafters, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.