Mechanical Drafters Salary
The median pay for a mechanical drafters in South Dakota is $52,610/year ($25.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $69K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $58,527 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 27.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $53K get you in South Dakota?
About mechanical drafters
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for mechanical drafters in South Dakota runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level mechanical drafters (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $69K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track mechanical drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 27.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical drafters in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical drafters typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,506/month. At HUD’s $1,017/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 South Dakota?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $53K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for mechanical drafters?
South Dakota pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical drafters make in South Dakota?
The median is $52,610 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,760, and experienced mechanical drafters can clear $68,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,693/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 27.5% 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 Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $58,527 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.