Content has loaded

Drafter salary in United States

How much does a Drafter make in the United States?

Average base salary

$27.69
Average $27.69
Low $18.31
High $41.89

The average salary for a drafter is $27.69 per hour in the United States. 3.4k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated August 16, 2026).

What Does a Drafter Do?

A draftsperson works in certain industries that require the use of technical drawings to complete and produce a product. For instance, one draftsperson may create schematics for mechanical toys while another assembles designs for airplanes. Depending on the preference of the employer, the duties of a draftsperson may vary between work opportunities, however, most drafting positions involve:
  • Generating 2D drawings or 3D models of architectural, engineering or manufacturing designs by using CAD or similar software
  • Calculating the dimensions and other physical components of the design to ensure the technical drawing has the correct scale
  • Archiving building schematics to use and reference in the future
  • Coordinating with other construction team professionals to discuss the product requirements necessary to complete technical drawings and negotiate changes
  • Creating charts and layouts that show the workflow plan for a construction project, including what materials, building tools and computer software they instruct the team to use
  • Improving the functionality of an existing building or product
  • Designing manuals to describe the features, upkeep procedures and operational instructions of a completed product
A draftsperson who works in a particular industry may also perform specialized tasks. Here is a list of some industry-specific drafters and the type of work they do:
  • Architectural: Create schematics using architectural designs for the construction of residential or commercial buildings. These builders also may merge other structural elements into the drawing, like engineering items.
  • Aeronautical drafters: Compile technical drawings for the creation and production of airplanes, mechanical projectiles and similar products.
  • Civil engineering drafters: Assemble construction drawings and terrain layouts to use in public infrastructure projects, including bridges, sewage systems and highways.
  • Electrical drafters: Draw layout plans for construction workers who install electrical wiring and other equipment in buildings or electrical power systems.
  • Electronics drafters: Prepare the wiring and circuit schematics needed to create or repair smaller components of electrical equipment.
  • Mechanical drafters: Create construction plans for machines and other mechanical equipment, including how to affix each part in the correct location.
  • Fuel pipeline drafters: Determine the layout and construction protocols of piping systems in chemical plants, oil refineries and other locations that require fuel-based pipe.
  • Set designer drafters: Provide schematics and models so production teams and departments can construct film or theater sets.
Learn more about what a Drafter does

Drafter job openings in United States

slide 1 of 6
slide1 of 6
Copy of Designer/Drafter
Scott Equipment Company3.3out of 5 stars.
New Prague, MN
$60,000 - $75,000 a year
Full-time
3 days ago

Highest paying companies for Drafter in United States

Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.
Intuitive
 
$260,000per year
View company
GovCIO
 
$176,800per year
RigUp
 
$173,680per year
Skanska
 
$164,508per year
Imprimis
 
$156,000per year
Anduril
 
$149,500per year

Hiring a Drafter?

Job Description
Job DescriptionWrite a Drafter job description

Highest paying cities for Drafters near United States

  1. Longwood, FL
    $31.96 per hour
  2. Columbus, OH
    $30.37 per hour
  3. Houston, TX
    $29.55 per hour
  4. Whittier, CA
    $27.51 per hour
  5. Minneapolis, MN
    $26.05 per hour

Where can a Drafter earn more?

Compare salaries for Drafters in different locations
vs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Drafter

How much do similar professions as Drafter get paid in United States?

Senior Drafter

Job openings
Average $34.40 per hour