Mechanical Drafters Salary
The median pay for a mechanical drafters in Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area is $63,910/year ($30.73/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers.
Where the paycheck goes
What $64K actually covers in Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area, month by month
About mechanical drafters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level mechanical drafters (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Drafters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Mechanical Drafters salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $90K | +26% | 90 |
| Colorado | $85K | +19% | 580 |
| New Jersey | $83K | +17% | 690 |
| California | $83K | +15% | 3,640 |
| Texas | $79K | +11% | 4,630 |
| Louisiana | $78K | +9% | 420 |
| North Dakota | $78K | +8% | 100 |
| Washington | $77K | +7% | 1,690 |
| Maryland | $77K | +7% | 360 |
| New York | $76K | +7% | 1,940 |
| Maine | $76K | +7% | 620 |
| Nevada | $76K | +6% | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $75K | +6% | 620 |
| Oregon | $74K | +3% | 410 |
| Minnesota | $73K | +2% | 1,220 |
| Vermont | $73K | +2% | 70 |
| Michigan | $72K | +1% | 2,030 |
| Ohio | $71K | -1% | 1,790 |
| Utah | $70K | -2% | 490 |
| Virginia | $70K | -3% | 630 |
| Rhode Island | $69K | -3% | 100 |
| Kentucky | $69K | -4% | 510 |
| Connecticut | $69K | -4% | 450 |
| Florida | $68K | -5% | 1,540 |
| Arizona | $67K | -6% | 630 |
| Georgia | $67K | -7% | 820 |
| Missouri | $66K | -7% | 870 |
| Kansas | $65K | -9% | 540 |
| West Virginia | $65K | -9% | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | -11% | 1,630 |
| South Carolina | $64K | -11% | 640 |
| Pennsylvania | $63K | -11% | 2,330 |
| Oklahoma | $63K | -11% | 650 |
| Tennessee | $63K | -11% | 740 |
| Iowa | $63K | -11% | 630 |
| Illinois | $63K | -12% | 450 |
| Indiana | $63K | -12% | 1,300 |
| Nebraska | $61K | -15% | 530 |
| Wyoming | $61K | -15% | 60 |
| Mississippi | $60K | -15% | 260 |
| Arkansas | $60K | -16% | 250 |
| North Carolina | $59K | -17% | 1,350 |
| Idaho | $59K | -17% | 330 |
| Delaware | $57K | -20% | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $55K | -23% | N/A |
| Alabama | $54K | -25% | 440 |
| South Dakota | $53K | -26% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track mechanical drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a mechanical drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 58.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,447/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical drafters in Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical drafters typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,379/month.
Is mechanical drafter a high-paying job in Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $64K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for mechanical drafters?
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -11%.
How much do mechanical drafters make in Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $63,910 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,420, and experienced mechanical drafters can clear $85,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,202/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,447/month, which eats 58.2% 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 Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median mechanical drafters salary is worth about $63,910 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.