Mechanical Drafters Salary
The median pay for a mechanical drafters in New Hampshire is $55,390/year ($26.63/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.66), so that salary is closer to $52,423 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,528/month, about 39.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Hampshire. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in New Hampshire?
About mechanical drafters
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What this looks like in New Hampshire
Pay for mechanical drafters in New Hampshire runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $72K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,528/month, which is 39.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.66), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for mechanical drafterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Hampshire
Entry-level mechanical drafters (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Drafters salary by metro in New Hampshire
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua | $62K | +11% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Hampshire numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Hampshire?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 39.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,528/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical drafters in New Hampshire?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical drafters typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,399/month. At HUD’s $1,528/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 New Hampshire?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $55K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does New Hampshire compare to the national average for mechanical drafters?
New Hampshire pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical drafters make in New Hampshire?
The median is $55,390 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,990, and experienced mechanical drafters can clear $87,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in New Hampshire?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,879/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,528/month, which eats 39.4% 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 New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has a Regional Price Parity of 105.66 (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 mechanical drafters salary is worth about $52,423 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.