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Mechanical Drafters: Career Overview
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.
The Daily Work of Mechanical Drafters Do?
Typical responsibilities of mechanical drafters cover:
- Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.
- Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
- Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
- Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
- Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials.
- Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components.
- Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful mechanical drafters draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Aeronautical Drafter
- Architectural Drafter
- Auto Design Detailer
- Auto Design Drafter (Automotive Design Drafter)
- Auto Design Layout Drafter (Automotive Design Layout Drafter)
- AutoCAD Designer
- AutoCAD Drafter
- AutoCAD Technician
Job Outlook
There are roughly 112,826 mechanical drafters working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +12.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Mechanical Drafters Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $78,252 |
| Hourly median | $37.62 |
| 10th percentile | $45,179 |
| 25th percentile | $61,716 |
| 75th percentile | $94,788 |
| 90th percentile | $111,325 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $85,220 |
| Colorado | $85,050 |
| Vermont | $81,840 |
| California | $80,430 |
| Arizona | $80,270 |
| Nevada | $79,710 |
| Oregon | $79,660 |
| New Jersey | $79,190 |
| Maryland | $77,300 |
| Texas | $76,740 |
| Rhode Island | $76,390 |
| Louisiana | $75,230 |
| Washington | $75,190 |
| Michigan | $74,390 |
| Kansas | $73,800 |
| Minnesota | $73,140 |
| Illinois | $72,530 |
| Massachusetts | $71,610 |
| New York | $69,440 |
| Utah | $68,520 |
| Connecticut | $67,420 |
| Missouri | $66,740 |
| South Carolina | $66,450 |
| Ohio | $66,290 |
| Oklahoma | $66,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,170 |
| North Dakota | $66,140 |
| Iowa | $65,160 |
| Kentucky | $65,110 |
| Georgia | $65,050 |
| Virginia | $64,820 |
| Tennessee | $64,180 |
| Idaho | $63,900 |
| Delaware | $63,560 |
| Florida | $62,360 |
| Indiana | $62,240 |
| North Carolina | $61,990 |
| Wisconsin | $61,960 |
| Arkansas | $60,620 |
| Maine | $59,960 |
| Mississippi | $58,760 |
| Montana | $57,590 |
| West Virginia | $57,040 |
| New Hampshire | $56,460 |
| Wyoming | $52,660 |
| Nebraska | $52,620 |
| South Dakota | $51,270 |
| Alabama | $49,580 |
| Puerto Rico | $49,310 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for mechanical drafters shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $77,089 | 14.8% | 1.03 |
| Southwest | $76,329 | 12.3% | 0.97 |
| Rocky Mountains | $72,263 | 3.7% | 1.04 |
| Middle Atlantic | $69,997 | 13.8% | 0.99 |
| New England | $68,748 | 4.7% | 1.20 |
| Plains States | $67,224 | 10.3% | 1.59 |
| Great Lakes | $66,684 | 20.8% | 1.78 |
| Southeast | $62,486 | 19.2% | 0.91 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Mechanical Drafters
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $111,820 | 250 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $94,180 | 550 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $88,540 | 950 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $86,500 | 70 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | CO | $86,230 | 40 |
| Reno, NV | NV | $85,230 | 80 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $85,050 | 280 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $84,790 | 40 |
Top Industries Employing Mechanical Drafters
Most mechanical drafters are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20,960 | $65,520 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 9,340 | $74,820 |
| Construction | 4,200 | $74,560 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2,040 | $68,510 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,200 | $69,980 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 880 | $78,250 |
| Utilities | 270 | $86,040 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 200 | $63,000 |
Mechanical Drafters work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe After Effects (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of mechanical drafters is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Education and Training
Entry-level mechanical drafters positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Software Developers (Supplemental)
- Electrical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechatronics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Architectural and Civil Drafters (Primary-Short)
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring mechanical drafters commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
7 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-3013.00 (Mechanical Drafters).
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