Mechanical Drafters pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,930 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Memphis earn between $50,540 and $78,540.
- $47K10th
- $51K25th
- $61KMedian
- $79K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,930 | $5,494 | $31.70 |
| Median | $61,330 | $5,111 | $29.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,540 | $4,212 | $24.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,540 | $6,545 | $37.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Memphis earn 3% less than the Tennessee average ($68,100) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $65,930 | $61,330 | $46,740 | $84,930 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $68,100 | $63,390 | $47,440 | $96,210 | 740 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $65,930, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $55,155 a year, or $4,596 a month and $2,121 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $55,155 | $4,596 |
| Working in MS | $53,250 | $4,437 |
| Working in AR | $53,203 | $4,434 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $65,930 buys what about $71,524 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 4th of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Knoxville pays the most ($69,730).
- Knoxville$69,730
- Chattanooga$69,470
- Nashville$68,020
- Memphis$65,930
- Clarksville$64,840
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 Memphis: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Memphis?
$31.70 an hour on average, and $29.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Memphis?
About $55,155 a year ($4,596 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,930. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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