Mechanical Drafters Salary
The median pay for a mechanical drafters in Utah is $70,000/year ($33.65/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $71,037 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,350/month, or 29.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in Utah?
About mechanical drafters
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What this looks like in Utah
Mechanical drafters pay in Utah tracks closely to the national median, $70K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,350/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) 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, Utah
Entry-level mechanical drafters (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Drafters salary by metro in Utah
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $73K | +4% | 190 |
| Ogden | $72K | +3% | 130 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $66K | -6% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical drafters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 29.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical drafters in Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical drafters typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,870/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Utah?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $70K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Utah compare to the national average for mechanical drafters?
Utah pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical drafters make in Utah?
The median is $70,000 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,840, and experienced mechanical drafters can clear $101,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,531/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 29.8% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $71,037 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.