Mechanical Drafters pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,600 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Washington earn between $68,960 and $100,090.
- $62K10th
- $69K25th
- $77KMedian
- $100K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,320 | $7,027 | $40.54 |
| Median | $76,600 | $6,383 | $36.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,960 | $5,747 | $33.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,090 | $8,341 | $48.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Washington earn 12% more than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $84,320 | $76,600 | $61,530 | $128,600 | 190 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $84,320, a single filer in Washington takes home about $63,950 a year, or $5,329 a month and $2,460 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $65,176 | $5,431 |
| Working in MD | $64,356 | $5,363 |
| Working in VA | $64,115 | $5,343 |
| Working in DC | $63,950 | $5,329 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $84,320 buys what about $77,440 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$79,700
- Chambersburg, PA$62,570
- York, PA$70,000
- Richmond, VA$72,920
- Harrisburg, PA$73,540
- Lancaster, PA$66,810
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 Washington: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Washington?
$40.54 an hour on average, and $36.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Washington?
About $63,950 a year ($5,329 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,320.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 0.24, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.24).
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