Mechanical Drafters: Career Overview
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.
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What Do Mechanical Drafters Perform?
The core tasks performed by mechanical drafters include:
- 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.
What Mechanical Drafters Need to Know
Top mechanical drafters rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top 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
Employment and Demand
There are about 112,826 mechanical drafters working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +12.6% over the projection horizon.
Mechanical Drafters Pay
| 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 |
Wages vary widely 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 vary by region. 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 |
Which Industries Hire 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 tends to involve 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
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level mechanical drafters positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with 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
Future mechanical drafters commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
7 programs across 2 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from 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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