As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Drafting Engineer in Washington, DC is $67,982, equivalent to $33 per hour, $1,307 weekly, or $5,665 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 Washington, DC vary widely, spanning from $58,004 to $81,342. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($62,759) and 75th percentile ($74,975), while top earners (90th percentile) make $81,342 per year. This $12,216 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, Washington Drafting Engineer often earn 0.0% higher than national averages. However, Washington currently ranks 84 statewide for Drafting Engineer job salary. 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 $58,004 Washington, DC January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $62,759 Washington, DC January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $67,982 Washington, DC January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $74,975 Washington, DC January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Drafting Engineer Salary $81,342 Washington, DC January 01, 2026
25% $62,759 10% $58,004 90% $81,342 75% $74,975 $67,982 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Drafting Engineer jobs in Washington, District of Columbia

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Lincoln Electric - EUCLID, OH

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Drafting Engineer

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Job Openings for Drafting Engineer in Washington, DC

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

 
 
 
62759
74975
67982

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
67713
84332
75289
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Drafting Engineer in Washington, DC. The base salary for Drafting Engineer ranges from $62,759 to $74,975 with the average base salary of $67,982. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $67,713 to $84,332 with the average total cash compensation of $75,289.

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62759
74975

 

About Washington, District of Columbia    Washington, D.C. is located in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. East Coast. Due to the District of Columbia retrocession, the city has a total area....More

Washington, District of Columbia  area prices were up 1.3% from a year ago

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