Mechanical Drafters Salary
The median pay for a mechanical drafters in Delaware is $57,110/year ($27.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $58,568 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,448/month, about 38.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Delaware. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $57K get you in Delaware?
About mechanical drafters
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What this looks like in Delaware
Pay for mechanical drafters in Delaware runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $72K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,448/month, which is 38.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for mechanical drafterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Delaware
Entry-level mechanical drafters (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track mechanical drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Delaware numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 38.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical drafters in Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical drafters typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,940/month. At HUD’s $1,448/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mechanical drafter a high-paying job in Delaware?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $57K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for mechanical drafters?
Delaware pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical drafters make in Delaware?
The median is $57,110 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,000, and experienced mechanical drafters can clear $84,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,778/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 38.3% 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 mechanical drafters salary go in Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (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 mechanical drafters salary is worth about $58,568 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical 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.