Mechanical Drafters Salary in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
The median pay for a mechanical drafters in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI is $73,980/year ($35.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.86), which stretches that salary to about $79,668 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $993/month, or 20% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $74K get you in South Bend-Mishawaka?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by South Bend-Mishawaka’s Regional Price Parity (92.86). 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 mechanical drafters
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Entry-level mechanical drafters (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Drafters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $85K | +24% | 120 |
| Vermont | $82K | +19% | 60 |
| California | $80K | +17% | 3,360 |
| Arizona | $80K | +17% | 720 |
| Nevada | $80K | +16% | 240 |
| Oregon | $80K | +16% | 470 |
| New Jersey | $79K | +16% | 780 |
| Maryland | $77K | +13% | 390 |
| Texas | $77K | +12% | 3,460 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | +12% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $75K | +10% | 370 |
| Washington | $75K | +10% | 1,600 |
| Michigan | $74K | +9% | 1,720 |
| Kansas | $74K | +8% | 460 |
| Minnesota | $73K | +7% | 1,450 |
| Illinois | $73K | +6% | 710 |
| Massachusetts | $72K | +5% | 840 |
| New York | $69K | +1% | 2,030 |
| Utah | $69K | +0% | 610 |
| Connecticut | $67K | -2% | 470 |
| Missouri | $67K | -3% | 820 |
| South Carolina | $66K | -3% | N/A |
| Ohio | $66K | -3% | 2,130 |
| Oklahoma | $66K | -3% | 530 |
| Pennsylvania | $66K | -3% | 2,070 |
| North Dakota | $66K | -3% | 50 |
| Iowa | $65K | -5% | 590 |
| Kentucky | $65K | -5% | 510 |
| Georgia | $65K | -5% | 590 |
| Virginia | $65K | -5% | 540 |
| Tennessee | $64K | -6% | 1,250 |
| Idaho | $64K | -7% | 250 |
| Delaware | $64K | -7% | 150 |
| Florida | $62K | -9% | 1,970 |
| Indiana | $62K | -9% | 1,590 |
| North Carolina | $62K | -10% | 850 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | -10% | 2,010 |
| Arkansas | $61K | -12% | 420 |
| Maine | $60K | -12% | 370 |
| Mississippi | $59K | -14% | 240 |
| Montana | $58K | -16% | 40 |
| West Virginia | $57K | -17% | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $56K | -18% | N/A |
| Wyoming | $53K | -23% | 60 |
| Nebraska | $53K | -23% | 560 |
| South Dakota | $51K | -25% | 110 |
| Alabama | $50K | -28% | 590 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track mechanical drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Bend-Mishawaka numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do mechanical drafters make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The median is $73,980 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,600, and experienced mechanical drafters can clear $113,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in South Bend-Mishawaka?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,848/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $993/month, which eats 20.5% 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 South Bend-Mishawaka?
South Bend-Mishawaka has a Regional Price Parity of 92.86 (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 $79,668 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.