What are the main factors that influence a Design Drafter's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Design Drafter's salary?

A Design Drafter's salary grows with experience: a CAD Drafter I (0-2 years)earns $67,924, a CAD Drafter II (2-4 years)earns $77,333, a Design Drafter (4-7 years)earns $93,633, a CAD Drafter IV (7+ years)earns $121,006, a CAD Drafter V (7-10 years)earns $141,778,

What are the highest paying states for a Design Drafter?

Design Drafter salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Design Drafter roles are District of Columbia $102,965, California $102,575, Massachusetts $101,208. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Design Drafter roles make?

Salaries for Design Drafter level roles vary by specialization: Computer Aided Design Drafter V: $138,190; CAD Drafter V: $138,118; Computer Aided Design Drafter IV: $117,890; CAD Drafter IV: $117,882; Computer Aided Design Drafter III: $91,300.

How do different companies affect a Design Drafter's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Design Drafter roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Design Drafter Salary in the United States

How much does a Design Drafter make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Design Drafter in the United States is $92,996 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $107,214
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,819 to $100,438
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,464

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Design Drafter Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$100,438	$8,370	$1,932	$48
Average	$92,996	$7,750	$1,788	$45
25th Percentile	$83,819	$6,985	$1,612	$40

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Key Factors That Influence Design Drafter Salaries

A Design 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Design Drafter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Design 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): $67,924
Early Career (1-2 years): $77,333
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $93,633
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $121,006
Expert (over 8 years): $141,778

Levels	Salary
CAD Draft... Level Design Drafter	$67,924
CAD Draft... Level Design Drafter	$77,333
Design Dr... Level Design Drafter	$93,633
CAD Draft... Level Design Drafter	$121,006
CAD Draft... Level Design Drafter	$141,778

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Design Drafter Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Design Drafters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $102,965.
California: $102,575.
Massachusetts: $101,208.

District of Columbia $102,965 California $102,575 Massachusetts $101,208 Washington $100,836 New Jersey $100,798 Alaska $100,668 Connecticut $99,385 New York $98,864

Hawaii $97,199 Rhode Island $96,418 Maryland $95,888 Minnesota $95,163 Colorado $94,884 Illinois $94,791 Oregon $94,437 Delaware $94,177

New Hampshire $94,013 Virginia $93,647 Pennsylvania $92,578 Nevada $92,038 North Dakota $91,861 Michigan $91,582 Wisconsin $91,480 Vermont $91,276

Texas $90,708 Maine $90,671 Arizona $90,615 Ohio $90,550 Georgia $89,695 Indiana $89,267 Wyoming $89,183 Utah $89,053

Iowa $88,997 Kansas $88,551 Louisiana $88,421 North Carolina $88,374 Missouri $88,355 Florida $87,993 Montana $87,798 Nebraska $87,612

Kentucky $87,509 South Carolina $87,137 Tennessee $86,905 Idaho $86,812 New Mexico $86,133 Oklahoma $85,984 Alabama $85,435 South Dakota $84,515

Arkansas $84,013 West Virginia $83,743 Mississippi $82,934

Top Paying Cities for Design 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: $117,296
San Francisco: $116,012
Oakland: $113,567

San Jose, CA $117,296

San Francisco, CA $116,012

Oakland, CA $113,567

New York, NY $107,075

Paramus, NJ $105,773

Queens Village, NY $105,768

Passaic, NJ $105,680

Bergenfield, NJ $105,671

Stamford, CT $105,467

Huntington, NY $105,429

Newark, NJ $104,741

Bridgeport, CT $104,545

Vallejo, CA $104,360

New Brunswick, NJ $104,323

Petaluma, CA $104,267

Middlesex, NJ $104,090

Somerset, NJ $104,025

Santa Cruz, CA $103,904

Boston, MA $103,337

Monterey, CA $103,011

Seattle, WA $102,798

Santa Rosa, CA $102,779

Los Angeles, CA $102,751

Juneau, AK $102,509

Washington, DC $102,407

Orange, CA $102,076

Santa Ana, CA $101,831

Long Beach, CA $101,738

Anaheim, CA $101,719

Anchorage, AK $101,673

Santa Maria, CA $101,394

Everett, WA $101,375

Danbury, CT $101,048

Bremerton, WA $100,919

Tacoma, WA $100,584

New Suffolk, NY $100,583

Sacramento, CA $100,557

Santa Barbara, CA $100,454

Trenton, NJ $100,352

San Diego, CA $100,352

Brockton, MA $100,250

Fairbanks, AK $100,022

Lompoc, CA $99,785

Lowell, MA $99,709

Ventura, CA $99,692

Nashua, NH $99,673

Stockton, CA $99,664

Modesto, CA $98,985

Poughkeepsie, NY $98,780

Olympia, WA $98,604

Kennewick, WA $98,604

New Haven, CT $98,566

Lawrence, MA $98,232

Hartford, CT $98,139

Riverside, CA $98,120

New Bedford, MA $98,027

Richland, WA $98,027

Bakersfield, CA $97,897

San Bernardino, CA $97,860

New Britain, CT $97,850

Atlantic City, NJ $97,850

New London, CT $97,813

Norwich, CT $97,785

Portsmouth, NH $97,767

Boulder, CO $97,570

Portland, OR $97,441

Worcester, MA $97,432

Minneapolis, MN $97,144

Philadelphia, PA $97,013

Honolulu, HI $96,707

Saint Paul, MN $96,662

Vineland, NJ $96,641

Providence, RI $96,372

Chicago, IL $96,102

Bellingham, WA $95,990

Springfield, MA $95,916

Baltimore, MD $95,888

Chico, CA $95,656

Pittsfield, MA $95,405

Manchester, NH $95,228

Spokane, WA $94,819

Denver, CO $94,809

Albany, NY $94,372

Troy, NY $94,335

Nassau, NY $94,236

Schenectady, NY $94,140

Wilmington, DE $94,065

Burlington, VT $93,935

Salem, OR $93,898

Portland, ME $93,610

Yakima, WA $93,517

Rochester, MN $93,228

Reno, NV $93,182

Fresno, CA $93,182

Milwaukee, WI $93,098

Detroit, MI $93,005

Ann Arbor, MI $92,989

Allentown, PA $92,977

Colorado Springs, CO $92,819

Syracuse, NY $92,773

Carson City, NV $92,773

Houston, TX $92,643

Eugene, OR $92,596

Gary, IN $92,485

Springfield, OR $92,410

Bismarck, ND $92,392

Galveston, TX $92,326

Medford, OR $92,187

Fort Collins, CO $92,150

Concord, NH $92,103

Austin, TX $92,075

Mesa, AZ $91,880

Reading, PA $91,871

Phoenix, AZ $91,861

Dallas, TX $91,834

Saint Cloud, MN $91,744

Madison, WI $91,620

Utica, NY $91,369

Rochester, NY $91,220

Des Moines, IA $91,210

Raleigh, NC $91,201

Atlanta, GA $91,062

Battle Creek, MI $91,034

Salt Lake City, UT $91,006

Lancaster, PA $90,866

Harrisburg, PA $90,736

Kansas City, MO $90,643

Champaign, IL $90,625

Kansas City, KS $90,625

Fort Worth, TX $90,615

Columbus, OH $90,599

Boca Raton, FL $90,578

Pittsburgh, PA $90,541

Richmond, VA $90,504

Indianapolis, IN $90,485

Cleveland, OH $90,476

Las Vegas, NV $90,364

Cincinnati, OH $90,364

Petersburg, VA $90,225

Huntsville, AL $90,085

Lansing, MI $90,023

Lebanon, PA $90,011

Pueblo, CO $90,002

Appleton, WI $89,974

Buffalo, NY $89,936

Dayton, OH $89,909

Racine, WI $89,890

Charlotte, NC $89,881

Saint Louis, MO $89,853

York, PA $89,797

Elkhart, IN $89,797

Gastonia, NC $89,779

Billings, MT $89,757

Beaumont, TX $89,732

Lorain, OH $89,713

Benton Harbor, MI $89,695

Toledo, OH $89,676

Binghamton, NY $89,630

Rock Hill, SC $89,620

Rockford, IL $89,574

Springfield, IL $89,537

Elyria, OH $89,527

Fargo, ND $89,527

Flagstaff, AZ $89,462

Fort Lauderdale, FL $89,406

Duluth, MN $89,351

Miami, FL $89,351

Cheyenne, WY $89,285

Grand Forks, ND $89,285

Bangor, ME $89,081

Cedar Rapids, IA $88,979

Durham, NC $88,940

Louisville, KY $88,932

Grand Rapids, MI $88,913

Hialeah, FL $88,904

Casper, WY $88,774

Scranton, PA $88,662

New Orleans, LA $88,634

Virginia Beach, VA $88,625

Akron, OH $88,579

Peoria, IL $88,458

Sarasota, FL $88,439

Nashville, TN $88,374

Omaha, NE $88,374

Green Bay, WI $88,374

Baton Rouge, LA $88,328

Charleston, SC $88,309

Jamestown, NY $88,263

Davenport, IA $88,263

Tucson, AZ $88,216

Saint Petersburg, FL $88,160

Tampa, FL $88,142

Evansville, IN $88,086

Port Arthur, TX $88,086

Bradenton, FL $88,049

Santa Fe, NM $87,881

Orlando, FL $87,714

Clearwater, FL $87,686

Canton, OH $87,491

La Crosse, WI $87,491

Albuquerque, NM $87,435

Newport News, VA $87,426

High Point, NC $87,398

Ogden, UT $87,360

Corpus Christi, TX $87,286

Norfolk, VA $87,230

Laramie, WY $87,230

Rock Island, IL $87,174

Saginaw, MI $87,156

Jacksonville, FL $87,147

Salisbury, NC $87,128

Boise, ID $87,109

Moline, IL $87,063

Fort Myers, FL $87,035

Memphis, TN $87,016

Tulsa, OK $86,970

Waterloo, IA $86,914

Spartanburg, SC $86,821

Lincoln, NE $86,775

Fort Wayne, IN $86,756

Provo, UT $86,747

Cedar Falls, IA $86,635

San Antonio, TX $86,598

Greensboro, NC $86,561

South Bend, IN $86,551

Savannah, GA $86,449

Muskegon, MI $86,412

Birmingham, AL $86,403

Winston Salem, NC $86,357

Lake Charles, LA $86,133

Anderson, IN $86,114

Lexington, KY $86,086

Augusta, GA $86,058

Greenville, SC $86,058

Lima, OH $85,984

Wichita, KS $85,975

Tuscaloosa, AL $85,975

Columbia, SC $85,891

Springfield, OH $85,873

Asheville, NC $85,724

Bloomington, IN $85,659

Knoxville, TN $85,324

Shreveport, LA $85,315

Wilmington, NC $85,194

Roanoke, VA $85,194

Topeka, KS $85,026

Frankfort, KY $85,016

Oklahoma City, OK $84,952

Chillicothe, OH $84,915

Longview, TX $84,905

Melbourne, FL $84,896

Sioux Falls, SD $84,747

Mobile, AL $84,738

Terre Haute, IN $84,701

Altoona, PA $84,645

Amarillo, TX $84,580

Killeen, TX $84,552

Fayetteville, AR $84,478

Chattanooga, TN $84,450

Sioux City, IA $84,366

Idaho Falls, ID $84,347

Lynchburg, VA $84,273

Gainesville, FL $84,152

Portsmouth, OH $84,106

Little Rock, AR $84,087

Lafayette, LA $84,050

Youngstown, OH $84,050

Daytona Beach, FL $83,994

Clarksville, TN $83,985

Pensacola, FL $83,975

Temple, TX $83,969

Hopkinsville, KY $83,696

Erie, PA $83,678

Florence, SC $83,641

Charleston, WV $83,492

Great Falls, MT $83,445

Macon, GA $83,315

Tallahassee, FL $83,306

Fayetteville, NC $83,287

Waco, TX $83,269

Helena, MT $83,204

Pine Bluff, AR $83,168

Vincennes, IN $83,055

Lubbock, TX $83,018

Alamogordo, NM $82,962

Twin Falls, ID $82,878

Rapid City, SD $82,850

Jackson, MS $82,683

Huntington, WV $82,676

Greenville, MS $82,673

Parkersburg, WV $82,579

Montgomery, AL $82,562

Wichita Falls, TX $82,469

Springfield, MO $82,469

Biloxi, MS $82,422

Monroe, LA $82,329

Johnstown, PA $82,264

Sumter, SC $82,227

Columbus, GA $82,218

Pascagoula, MS $82,041

Abilene, TX $82,041

Kingsport, TN $81,799

Albany, GA $81,799

Gulfport, MS $81,771

Alexandria, LA $81,464

Fort Smith, AR $81,232

El Paso, TX $80,981

Las Cruces, NM $80,562

Harlingen, TX $80,326

Pocatello, ID $80,311

Florence, AL $80,190

Brownsville, TX $80,172

Mcallen, TX $79,977

Dothan, AL $79,846

Columbus, MS $79,294

Altus, OK $78,861

Lawton, OK $78,684

Pierre, SD $78,349

What Skills Can Increase a Design Drafter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 3.62% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
Pneumatics (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Pneumatics (pronounced new-MATT-ix) is an aspect of physics and engineering that is concerned with using the energy in compressed gas to make something move or work.
CAD Software (Mentioned in 1.38% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting	3.62%
Pneumatics	2.2%
CAD Software	1.38%

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 Design Drafter's salary.

Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Products and Services	$100,436	8%
Innovation	$98,576	6%
Analysis	$97,646	5%
Leadership	$97,646	5%
Commitment	$96,716	4%
Collaboration	$96,716	4%

Get Latest Data

Design Drafter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Design Drafter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Transportation and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Design Drafter positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Design Drafter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Design Drafter

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Transportation	$120,895	$58.0	30%
Energy & Utilities	$102,296	$49.0	10%
Financial Services	$102,296	$49.0	10%
Software & Networking	$100,436	$48.0	8%
Biotechnology	$97,646	$47.0	5%

How Education impacts a Design Drafter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Design Drafters enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Design Drafter with a No Diploma is between $92,048 and $97,709).

Design Drafter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Design Drafter

No Diploma 100.0%

High School 0.0%

Associates 100.0%

Bachelors 0.0%

Masters 0.0%

Doctorate 0.0%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	100.0%
High School	0.0%
Associates	100.0%
Bachelors	0.0%
Masters	0.0%
Doctorate	0.0%

view as graph

Design Drafter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Design 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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

$83,819

Average $92,996/year

$100,438

$6,985

Average $7,750/month

$8,370

$1,612

Average $1,788/week

$1,932

$40

Average $45/hour

$48

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$100,438	$8,370	$1,932	$48
Average	$92,996	$7,750	$1,788	$45
25th Percentile	$83,819	$6,985	$1,612	$40

Salaries of jobs related to Design Drafter

Salary Trends for Design Drafter

Salaries for a Design Drafter can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $101,864 in 2023 to around $99,501 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Design Drafter salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Design Drafter Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$101,864

2024

$100,738

2025

$99,501

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$101,864
2024	$100,738
2025	$99,501
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Design Drafter

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

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FAQ about Design Drafter

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Design Drafter?

The Transportation industry offers the highest average compensation for Design Drafter roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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