Mechanical Drafters pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,230 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Fargo earn between $63,660 and $82,360.
- $50K10th
- $64K25th
- $78KMedian
- $82K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,940 | $6,328 | $36.51 |
| Median | $77,520 | $6,460 | $37.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,660 | $5,305 | $30.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,360 | $6,863 | $39.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Fargo earn about the same as the North Dakota average ($77,950) and about the same as the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $75,940 | $77,520 | $50,180 | $100,230 | 40 |
| North Dakota | $77,950 | $77,570 | $56,380 | $121,580 | 100 |
| 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 Fargo
On the average salary of $75,940, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $62,054 a year, or $5,171 a month and $2,387 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Fargo, ND-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in ND | $62,054 | $5,171 |
| Working in MN | $58,613 | $4,884 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fargo area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.9), so the average $75,940 buys what about $83,569 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other North Dakota cities
Fargo ranks 1st of 2 North Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fargo$75,940
- Grand Forks$73,760
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 Fargo: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Fargo?
$36.51 an hour on average, and $37.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Fargo?
About $62,054 a year ($5,171 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,940.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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