As of October 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Drafting Engineer in the US is $61,405, equivalent to $30 per hour, $1,181 weekly, or $5,117 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Drafting Engineer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Drafting Engineer in the US vary widely, spanning from $52,363 to $73,423. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($56,672) and 75th percentile ($67,696), while top earners (90th percentile) make $73,423 per year. This $11,024 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Troubleshooting or Installation, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Drafting Engineer often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 62 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Drafting Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $52,363 US October 01, 2026
25th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $56,672 US October 01, 2026
50th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $61,405 US October 01, 2026
75th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $67,696 US October 01, 2026
90th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $73,423 US October 01, 2026
25% $56,672 10% $52,363 90% $73,423 75% $67,696 $61,405 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Drafting Engineer

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Job Openings for Drafting Engineer

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Drafting Engineer

    0 - 1 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

  2. Up a level:

    CAD Support Technician II

    1 - 3 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Drafting Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
56672
67696
61405

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
62630
77999
69635
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Drafting Engineer in the United States. The base salary for Drafting Engineer ranges from $56,672 to $67,696 with the average base salary of $61,405. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $62,630 to $77,999 with the average total cash compensation of $69,635.

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56672
67696

 

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