As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Drafting Engineer in the US is $61,399, 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 Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Drafting Engineer in the US vary widely, spanning from $52,388 to $73,466. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($56,683) and 75th percentile ($67,716), while top earners (90th percentile) make $73,466 per year. This $11,033 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 $52,388 US January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $56,683 US January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $61,399 US January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $67,716 US January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $73,466 US January 01, 2026
25% $56,683 10% $52,388 90% $73,466 75% $67,716 $61,399 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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King Industries, Inc. - NORWALK, CT

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Lincoln Electric - EUCLID, OH

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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

 
 
 
56683
67716
61399

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
61157
76167
68000
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 $56,683 to $67,716 with the average base salary of $61,399. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $61,157 to $76,167 with the average total cash compensation of $68,000.

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56683
67716

 

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