What are the main factors that influence a Senior Draftsman's salary?

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

How does experience change A Senior Draftsman's salary?

A Senior Draftsman's salary grows with experience: a CAD Drafter I (0-2 years)earns $68,148, a CAD Drafter II (2-4 years)earns $77,588, a Senior Draftsman (4-7 years)earns $93,943, a CAD Drafter IV (7+ years)earns $121,424, a CAD Drafter V (7-10 years)earns $142,270,

What are the highest paying states for a Senior Draftsman?

Senior Draftsman salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Senior Draftsman roles are District of Columbia $104,666, California $104,269, Massachusetts $102,879. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Senior Draftsman roles make?

Salaries for Senior Draftsman level roles vary by specialization: Design Draftsman: $93,467; Mechanical Draftsman: $90,748; Revit Draftsman: $89,612; Draftsman: $89,401; Engineering Draftsman: $89,164.

How do different companies affect a Senior Draftsman's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Senior Draftsman 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.

Senior Draftsman Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Draftsman make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Draftsman in the United States is $94,532 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,827
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $86,146 to $102,538
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $78,510

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Senior Draftsman Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$102,538	$8,545	$1,972	$49
Average	$94,532	$7,878	$1,818	$45
25th Percentile	$86,146	$7,179	$1,657	$41

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Key Factors That Influence Senior Draftsman Salaries

A Senior Draftsman'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 Senior Draftsman Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Draftsman'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): $68,148
Early Career (1-2 years): $77,588
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $93,943
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $121,424
Expert (over 8 years): $142,270

Levels	Salary
CAD Draft... Level Senior Draftsman	$68,148
CAD Draft... Level Senior Draftsman	$77,588
Senior Dr... Level Senior Draftsman	$93,943
CAD Draft... Level Senior Draftsman	$121,424
CAD Draft... Level Senior Draftsman	$142,270

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Senior Draftsman 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 Senior Draftsmans. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $104,666.
California: $104,269.
Massachusetts: $102,879.

District of Columbia $104,666

California $104,269

Massachusetts $102,879

Washington $102,501

New Jersey $102,463

Alaska $102,331

Connecticut $101,026

New York $100,497

Hawaii $98,805

Rhode Island $98,011

Maryland $97,472

Minnesota $96,735

Colorado $96,451

Illinois $96,356

Oregon $95,997

Delaware $95,733

New Hampshire $95,566

Virginia $95,194

Pennsylvania $94,107

Nevada $93,558

North Dakota $93,379

Michigan $93,095

Wisconsin $92,991

Vermont $92,783

Texas $92,207

Maine $92,169

Arizona $92,112

Ohio $92,046

Georgia $91,176

Indiana $90,741

Wyoming $90,656

Utah $90,524

Iowa $90,467

Kansas $90,013

Louisiana $89,881

North Carolina $89,834

Missouri $89,815

Florida $89,446

Montana $89,248

Nebraska $89,059

Kentucky $88,955

South Carolina $88,576

Tennessee $88,340

Idaho $88,246

New Mexico $87,556

Oklahoma $87,404

Alabama $86,847

South Dakota $85,911

Arkansas $85,400

West Virginia $85,126

Mississippi $84,304

Top Paying Cities for Senior Draftsmans

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: $119,233
San Francisco: $118,061
Oakland: $115,442

San Jose, CA $119,233

San Francisco, CA $118,061

Oakland, CA $115,442

New York, NY $109,553

Queens Village, NY $108,844

Paramus, NJ $108,088

Passaic, NJ $107,993

Bergenfield, NJ $107,899

Stamford, CT $107,757

Huntington, NY $107,662

Newark, NJ $107,048

Bridgeport, CT $106,859

New Brunswick, NJ $106,547

Vallejo, CA $106,349

Middlesex, NJ $106,292

Somerset, NJ $106,207

Petaluma, CA $105,989

Santa Cruz, CA $105,621

Boston, MA $105,432

Monterey, CA $104,959

Fairbanks, AK $104,893

Los Angeles, CA $104,713

Washington, DC $104,666

Seattle, WA $104,496

Santa Rosa, CA $104,477

Juneau, AK $104,203

Orange, CA $103,891

Anchorage, AK $103,721

Anaheim, CA $103,654

Santa Ana, CA $103,513

Nassau, NY $103,456

Long Beach, CA $103,418

Danbury, CT $103,390

Santa Maria, CA $103,068

Everett, WA $103,049

Bremerton, WA $102,586

Trenton, NJ $102,407

Sacramento, CA $102,369

San Diego, CA $102,321

Brockton, MA $102,284

Tacoma, WA $102,246

Santa Barbara, CA $102,113

Lowell, MA $101,735

New Suffolk, NY $101,698

Nashua, NH $101,584

Lompoc, CA $101,433

Ventura, CA $101,338

Stockton, CA $101,310

New Haven, CT $101,121

Atlantic City, NJ $100,875

Hartford, CT $100,667

Modesto, CA $100,620

Poughkeepsie, NY $100,412

New Britain, CT $100,365

Olympia, WA $100,232

Kennewick, WA $100,232

New London, CT $100,213

Norwich, CT $100,185

Lawrence, MA $100,138

Bakersfield, CA $99,873

Riverside, CA $99,741

New Bedford, MA $99,741

Richland, WA $99,646

Portsmouth, NH $99,571

Vineland, NJ $99,552

San Bernardino, CA $99,476

Boulder, CO $99,211

Worcester, MA $99,136

Portland, OR $99,051

Saint Paul, MN $98,937

Minneapolis, MN $98,937

Philadelphia, PA $98,805

Honolulu, HI $98,304

Springfield, MA $97,973

Providence, RI $97,964

Chicago, IL $97,689

Bellingham, WA $97,576

Baltimore, MD $97,472

Chico, CA $97,236

Wilmington, DE $97,075

Pittsfield, MA $96,980

Manchester, NH $96,801

Spokane, WA $96,385

Denver, CO $96,375

Albany, NY $95,931

Troy, NY $95,893

Schenectady, NY $95,695

Burlington, VT $95,487

Portland, ME $95,156

Salem, OR $95,080

Yakima, WA $95,061

Ann Arbor, MI $95,033

Rochester, MN $94,768

Fresno, CA $94,721

Reno, NV $94,721

Milwaukee, WI $94,636

Detroit, MI $94,541

Allentown, PA $94,513

Carson City, NV $94,504

Houston, TX $94,362

Colorado Springs, CO $94,352

Syracuse, NY $94,305

Eugene, OR $94,126

Bismarck, ND $94,012

Gary, IN $94,012

Galveston, TX $94,012

Springfield, OR $93,936

Medford, OR $93,710

Fort Collins, CO $93,672

Austin, TX $93,596

Mesa, AZ $93,398

Phoenix, AZ $93,379

Dallas, TX $93,350

Reading, PA $93,294

Saint Cloud, MN $93,256

Concord, NH $93,171

Madison, WI $93,133

Utica, NY $92,878

Raleigh, NC $92,802

Las Vegas, NV $92,793

Rochester, NY $92,726

Des Moines, IA $92,717

Atlanta, GA $92,566

Battle Creek, MI $92,537

Salt Lake City, UT $92,509

Lancaster, PA $92,367

Champaign, IL $92,348

Harrisburg, PA $92,235

Durham, NC $92,150

Kansas City, MO $92,140

Kansas City, KS $92,121

Fort Worth, TX $92,112

Boca Raton, FL $92,074

Cleveland, OH $92,065

Columbus, OH $92,046

Pittsburgh, PA $92,036

Richmond, VA $91,999

Indianapolis, IN $91,980

Cincinnati, OH $91,857

Petersburg, VA $91,715

Billings, MT $91,507

Lansing, MI $91,507

Huntsville, AL $91,507

Lebanon, PA $91,498

Dayton, OH $91,488

Pueblo, CO $91,488

Appleton, WI $91,460

Buffalo, NY $91,422

Racine, WI $91,375

Charlotte, NC $91,365

Saint Louis, MO $91,337

Springfield, IL $91,299

Elkhart, IN $91,280

York, PA $91,280

Gastonia, NC $91,271

Benton Harbor, MI $91,271

Beaumont, TX $91,214

Lorain, OH $91,195

Toledo, OH $91,157

Binghamton, NY $91,110

Rock Hill, SC $91,100

Rockford, IL $91,053

Fargo, ND $91,006

Elyria, OH $91,006

Flagstaff, AZ $90,940

Fort Lauderdale, FL $90,883

Miami, FL $90,826

Duluth, MN $90,675

Bangor, ME $90,552

Cedar Rapids, IA $90,448

Louisville, KY $90,401

Grand Rapids, MI $90,382

Hialeah, FL $90,373

Casper, WY $90,240

Scranton, PA $90,127

New Orleans, LA $90,098

Virginia Beach, VA $90,089

Akron, OH $90,042

Peoria, IL $89,919

Sarasota, FL $89,900

Green Bay, WI $89,834

Baton Rouge, LA $89,786

Charleston, SC $89,768

Nashville, TN $89,739

Jamestown, NY $89,720

Davenport, IA $89,720

Tucson, AZ $89,673

Cheyenne, WY $89,645

Saint Petersburg, FL $89,616

Tampa, FL $89,597

Omaha, NE $89,579

Port Arthur, TX $89,541

Evansville, IN $89,541

Bradenton, FL $89,503

Santa Fe, NM $89,333

Orlando, FL $89,238

Clearwater, FL $89,134

Canton, OH $88,936

La Crosse, WI $88,936

Grand Forks, ND $88,907

Albuquerque, NM $88,879

Tulsa, OK $88,879

Newport News, VA $88,870

High Point, NC $88,841

Ogden, UT $88,803

Corpus Christi, TX $88,728

Laramie, WY $88,671

Norfolk, VA $88,671

Rock Island, IL $88,614

Saginaw, MI $88,595

Jacksonville, FL $88,586

Salisbury, NC $88,567

Memphis, TN $88,548

Moline, IL $88,501

Fort Myers, FL $88,472

Waterloo, IA $88,350

Spartanburg, SC $88,255

Lincoln, NE $88,208

Fort Wayne, IN $88,189

Birmingham, AL $88,085

Cedar Falls, IA $88,066

Provo, UT $88,057

Springfield, OH $88,047

San Antonio, TX $88,028

Greensboro, NC $87,990

South Bend, IN $87,981

Winston Salem, NC $87,971

Boise, ID $87,943

Savannah, GA $87,877

Muskegon, MI $87,707

Lima, OH $87,593

Lake Charles, LA $87,556

Anderson, IN $87,537

Lexington, KY $87,508

Augusta, GA $87,480

Greenville, SC $87,480

Wichita, KS $87,395

Tuscaloosa, AL $87,395

Columbia, SC $87,310

Bloomington, IN $87,073

Roanoke, VA $87,017

Asheville, NC $86,894

Knoxville, TN $86,733

Shreveport, LA $86,724

Wilmington, NC $86,601

Frankfort, KY $86,421

Oklahoma City, OK $86,355

Chillicothe, OH $86,317

Longview, TX $86,308

Topeka, KS $86,279

Mobile, AL $86,138

Terre Haute, IN $86,100

Erie, PA $86,090

Altoona, PA $86,043

Melbourne, FL $86,015

Amarillo, TX $85,977

Killeen, TX $85,948

Fayetteville, AR $85,873

Sioux Falls, SD $85,807

Chattanooga, TN $85,750

Idaho Falls, ID $85,741

Gainesville, FL $85,542

Portsmouth, OH $85,495

Little Rock, AR $85,476

Lynchburg, VA $85,476

Lafayette, LA $85,438

Youngstown, OH $85,438

Temple, TX $85,400

Daytona Beach, FL $85,381

Clarksville, TN $85,372

Pensacola, FL $85,362

Hopkinsville, KY $85,079

Charleston, WV $85,069

Florence, SC $85,022

Sioux City, IA $84,965

Macon, GA $84,691

Tallahassee, FL $84,682

Fayetteville, NC $84,663

Waco, TX $84,644

Wichita Falls, TX $84,644

Pine Bluff, AR $84,606

Vincennes, IN $84,427

Lubbock, TX $84,389

Great Falls, MT $84,332

Alamogordo, NM $84,323

Abilene, TX $84,247

Rapid City, SD $84,124

Monroe, LA $84,124

Albany, GA $84,067

Huntington, WV $84,058

Jackson, MS $84,048

Greenville, MS $84,039

Parkersburg, WV $83,944

Montgomery, AL $83,926

Johnstown, PA $83,907

Springfield, MO $83,831

Biloxi, MS $83,784

Sumter, SC $83,585

Columbus, GA $83,576

Twin Falls, ID $83,519

Pascagoula, MS $83,396

Kingsport, TN $83,150

Gulfport, MS $83,122

Alexandria, LA $82,810

Fort Smith, AR $82,574

El Paso, TX $82,318

Helena, MT $82,196

Las Cruces, NM $81,893

Harlingen, TX $81,628

Pocatello, ID $81,543

Florence, AL $81,515

Brownsville, TX $81,496

Dothan, AL $81,345

Mcallen, TX $81,298

Columbus, MS $80,598

Altus, OK $80,163

Lawton, OK $79,984

Pierre, SD $79,643

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Draftsman'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 Senior Draftsman'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	$102,095	8%
Innovation	$100,204	6%
Analysis	$99,259	5%
Leadership	$99,259	5%
Commitment	$98,313	4%
Collaboration	$98,313	4%

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How Education impacts a Senior Draftsman's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior Draftsmans 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 Senior Draftsman with a No Diploma is between $92,048 and $97,709).

Senior Draftsman Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior Draftsman

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

Senior Draftsman Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Draftsman'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 April 01, 2026

$86,146

Average $94,532/year

$102,538

$7,179

Average $7,878/month

$8,545

$1,657

Average $1,818/week

$1,972

$41

Average $45/hour

$49

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$102,538	$8,545	$1,972	$49
Average	$94,532	$7,878	$1,818	$45
25th Percentile	$86,146	$7,179	$1,657	$41

Salaries of jobs related to Senior Draftsman

Salary Trends for Senior Draftsman

Salaries for a Senior Draftsman can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $102,201 in 2023 to around $99,830 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Senior Draftsman salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Senior Draftsman Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$102,201

2024

$101,072

2025

$99,830

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$102,201
2024	$101,072
2025	$99,830
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Senior Draftsman

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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.

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