Mechanical Drafters pay range in Fort Wayne
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,630 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Fort Wayne earn between $50,350 and $73,730.
- $42K10th
- $50K25th
- $65KMedian
- $74K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,960 | $5,330 | $30.75 |
| Median | $64,820 | $5,402 | $31.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,350 | $4,196 | $24.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,730 | $6,144 | $35.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Fort Wayne vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Fort Wayne earn about the same as the Indiana average ($65,210) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | $63,960 | $64,820 | $42,340 | $86,630 | 80 |
| Indiana | $65,210 | $62,820 | $45,470 | $88,470 | 1,300 |
| United States | $75,060 | $71,550 | $48,360 | $106,580 | 39,960 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Drafters salary after taxes in Fort Wayne
On the average salary of $63,960, a single filer in Fort Wayne takes home about $50,682 a year, or $4,224 a month and $1,949 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Is Fort Wayne a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fort Wayne area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $63,960 buys what about $69,092 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Fort Wayne ($47,700). A typical home costs $259,816, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Indiana cities
Fort Wayne ranks 3rd of 5 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($70,850).
- Indianapolis$70,850
- Columbus$68,110
- Fort Wayne$63,960
- Evansville$60,210
- Elkhart$58,620
Highest-paying cities for mechanical drafters
Boulder, CO pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($109,830).
- Boulder, CO$109,830
- Albuquerque, NM$104,030
- San Jose, CA$101,310
- San Francisco, CA$98,950
- Seattle, WA$98,470
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Mechanical Drafters salary in Fort Wayne: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Fort Wayne?
$30.75 an hour on average, and $31.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Fort Wayne?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Fort Wayne?
About $50,682 a year ($4,224 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,960. Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Fort Wayne than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($75,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-3013; area Fort Wayne, IN (23060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.31, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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