Mechanical Drafters Salary
The median pay for a mechanical drafters in Maine is $76,360/year ($36.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $78,158 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,281/month, or 25.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Maine?
About mechanical drafters
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What this looks like in Maine
Mechanical drafters pay in Maine tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,281/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level mechanical drafters (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Drafters salary by metro in Maine
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $76K | +0% | 570 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 26.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical drafters in Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical drafters typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,130/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Maine?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Maine compare to the national average for mechanical drafters?
Maine pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical drafters make in Maine?
The median is $76,360 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,170, and experienced mechanical drafters can clear $76,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,846/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 26.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical drafters salary go in Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $78,158 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.