Mechanical Drafters pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $116,720 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Boston earn between $62,060 and $98,040.
- $52K10th
- $62K25th
- $78KMedian
- $98K75th
- $117K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,460 | $6,788 | $39.16 |
| Median | $78,210 | $6,518 | $37.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,060 | $5,172 | $29.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,040 | $8,170 | $47.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Boston earn 3% more than the Massachusetts average ($79,060) and 9% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $81,460 | $78,210 | $52,000 | $116,720 | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $79,060 | $75,490 | $52,660 | $108,020 | 620 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $81,460, a single filer in Boston takes home about $62,384 a year, or $5,199 a month and $2,399 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $66,137 | $5,511 |
| Working in MA | $62,384 | $5,199 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $81,460 buys what about $75,241 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 3 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$81,460
- Worcester$69,350
- Springfield$69,000
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 Boston: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Boston?
$39.16 an hour on average, and $37.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Boston?
About $62,384 a year ($5,199 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,460. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
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