How Much Does a Draftsman Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$66,150
Draftsmen in the U.S. earn a median of $66,150 a year, or $31.80 an hour. Half of draftsmen earn more than $66,150 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $99,710.
Pay percentiles for draftsmen
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22.24 | $46,260 |
| 25th | $26.76 | $55,650 |
| 50th (median) | $31.80 | $66,150 |
| 75th | $38.88 | $80,870 |
| 90th | $47.94 | $99,710 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Architectural and Civil Drafters (SOC 17-3011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for draftsmen
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $97,880 | $47.06 | +48% |
| Massachusetts | $76,990 | $37.02 | +16% |
| California | $76,520 | $36.79 | +16% |
| Colorado | $76,370 | $36.72 | +15% |
| Connecticut | $76,290 | $36.68 | +15% |
| New York | $76,260 | $36.66 | +15% |
| Maryland | $75,180 | $36.14 | +14% |
| Georgia | $74,940 | $36.03 | +13% |
| Oregon | $74,000 | $35.58 | +12% |
| Delaware | $73,040 | $35.12 | +10% |
| United States | $66,150 | $31.80 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many draftsmen are there?
BLS counts about 103,700 draftsmen employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Architectural and Civil Drafters”. The most jobs are in Texas (11,710), California (11,400) and Florida (7,530).
The mean (average) annual wage is $70,740, higher than the median of $66,150.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,513
- Biweekly
- $2,544
- Weekly
- $1,272
- Daily (8 hours)
- $254
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do draftsmen make an hour?
The median hourly wage for draftsmen is $31.80. The middle 50% earn between $26.76 and $38.88 an hour.
Which state pays draftsmen the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for draftsmen at $97,880, +48% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for draftsmen?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of draftsmen earn less than $46,260 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.