Electrical and Electronics Drafters Salary
In Washington, electrical and electronics drafters earn $72,250 at the median, or about $34.74 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $109K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $70,826 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 36.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Washington?
About electrical and electronics drafters
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What this looks like in Washington
Electrical and electronics drafters pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 37.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level electrical and electronics drafters (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $109K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Electrical and Electronics Drafters salary by metro in Washington
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $84K | +16% | 220 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $71K | -2% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track electrical and electronics drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a electrical and electronics drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 37.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for electrical and electronics drafters in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new electrical and electronics drafters typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,202/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is electrical and electronics drafter a high-paying job in Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for electrical and electronics drafters?
Washington pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do electrical and electronics drafters make in Washington?
The median is $72,250 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,370, and experienced electrical and electronics drafters can clear $109,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,934/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 37.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a electrical and electronics drafters salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median electrical and electronics drafters salary is worth about $70,826 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do electrical and electronics drafters 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.