Drafter Salary in Circle, MT

How much does a Drafter make in Circle, MT?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Drafter in Circle, MT is $73,182 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, a Drafter's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,048
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,146 to $83,581
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,561
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View as table View as graph 25% $68,146 10% $63,561 90% $93,048 75% $83,581 $73,182 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Drafter Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $83,581 $6,965 $1,607 $40
Average $73,182 $6,099 $1,407 $35
25th Percentile $68,146 $5,679 $1,310 $33
Check out Drafter Job Openings in Circle, MT
CAD Drafter

Alliedengineering - Bozeman, MT

Lead Drafter

406engineeringinc - Kalispell, MT

Early Career Structural Drafter

WSP - Billings, MT

Senior CAD Drafter - Civil 3D, 2D/3D Site Plans

406engineeringinc - Kalispell, MT

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Key Factors That Influence Drafter Salaries

A Drafter'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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Drafter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Drafter'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $63,609
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $72,418
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $87,685
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,339
  • Expert (over 8 years): $132,798
Levels Salary
CAD Draft... Level Drafter$63,609
Drafter Level Drafter$72,418
CAD Draft... Level Drafter$87,685
CAD Draft... Level Drafter$113,339
CAD Draft... Level Drafter$132,798
$63,609 0 yr
$72,418 < 2 yrs
$87,685 2-4 yrs
$113,339 5-8 yrs
$132,798 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Drafters

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:

  • San Jose: $96,857
  • San Francisco: $95,905
  • Oakland: $93,778

What Skills Can Increase a Drafter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 1.96% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
  • 3D CAD (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): CAD is short for Computer-aided design. It's the use of computers to aid in the creation and optimization of a design. Designs made through 3D CAD software focus on the three dimensional quality of design of characters and objects.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 1.17% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail 1.96%
3D CAD 1.49%
Installation 1.17%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Drafter's salary.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis
 $77,573
6%
Collaboration
 $76,110
4%
Presentation
 $76,110
4%
Telecommunications
 $75,378
3%
Software Design
 $75,378
3%
Innovation
 $75,378
3%
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Drafter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Drafter'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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on March 01, 2026
$68,146
Average $73,182/year
$83,581
$5,679
Average $6,099/month
$6,965
$1,310
Average $1,407/week
$1,607
$33
Average $35/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $83,581 $6,965 $1,607 $40
Average $73,182 $6,099 $1,407 $35
25th Percentile $68,146 $5,679 $1,310 $33

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Cost of Living In Circle, MT

Cost of Living in Circle, MT is
-0.1% Lower
than the National Average

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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