Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an MEP Mechanical Drafter I in California is $61,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.
However, an MEP Mechanical Drafter I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
MEP Mechanical Drafter I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $71,100 | $5,925 | $1,367 | $34 |
| Average | $61,800 | $5,150 | $1,188 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,900 | $4,825 | $1,113 | $28 |
Design West Engineering - Sacramento, CA
Design West Engineering - San Bernardino, CA
Chemical Safety Technology, Inc. - San Jose, CA
Amtec Contract - Irvine, CA
An MEP Mechanical Drafter I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an MEP Mechanical Drafter I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| MEP Mechanical Drafter I | 0-1 years | $61,723 |
| MEP Mechanical Drafter II | 1-3 years | $72,015 |
| MEP Mechanical Drafter III | 3-5 years | $87,927 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract MEP Mechanical Drafter Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
MEP Mechanical Drafter I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $69,182. While startup companies pay approximate $58,526.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $58,526 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $61,898 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $66,807 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $69,182 |
For MEP Mechanical Drafter I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Media sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, MEP Mechanical Drafter positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view MEP Mechanical Drafter I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | $74,160 | $36.0 | 20% |
| Media | $71,070 | $34.0 | 15% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $69,216 | $33.0 | 12% |
| Energy & Utilities | $67,980 | $33.0 | 10% |
| MFG Nondurable | $66,744 | $32.0 | 8% |
Understanding how an MEP Mechanical Drafter I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $71,100 | $5,925 | $1,367 | $34 |
| Average | $61,800 | $5,150 | $1,188 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,900 | $4,825 | $1,113 | $28 |
For an MEP Mechanical Drafter I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the MEP Mechanical Drafter II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $72,100 - a projected growth of 17% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current MEP Mechanical Drafter I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Design West Engineering
Sacramento, CA
Design West Engineering | Sacramento, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Joining Team DWE. Design West Engineering is a multidisciplinary design engineering company that prides itself on custome... more
7 Days Ago
Enhanced Staffing, Inc.
Sacramento, CA
Enhanced Staffing, Inc. | Sacramento, CA
Project Executive – Mechanical Construction-Fast Growing Firm. $160,000-$200,000 Base Salary-Excellent Benefits. Location: Sacramento, CA. Enhanced Staffin... more
10 Days Ago
Marx Okubo and Assoc.
Pasadena, CA
Marx Okubo and Assoc. | Pasadena, CA
Job Description. Job Description. As a trusted national. architecture/engineering/construction. consulting firm, . Marx Okubo . works with real estate owne... more
8 Days Ago
Marx Okubo and Assoc.
Huntington Beach, CA
Marx Okubo and Assoc. | Huntington Beach, CA
Job Description. Job Description. As a trusted national. architecture/engineering/construction. consulting firm, . Marx Okubo . works with real estate owne... more
9 Days Ago
WRS - Worldwide Recruitment Solutions
Union City, CA
WRS - Worldwide Recruitment Solutions | Union City, CA
Job Description. Job Description. POSITION SUMMARY. Our Project Managers are experienced in commercial HVAC and Mechanical Construction and likes the chall... more
7 Days Ago
AMPAM Parks Mechanical
Carson, CA
AMPAM Parks Mechanical | Carson, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Who We Are. AMPAM is the leading design-build Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) contractor serving large-scale m... more
7 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
