How much does a drafter make?
Answer: A typical drafter in the United States makes $63,520 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 14,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Drafter pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $43,420 | $63,520 | $99,380 | about 14,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $73,390 | about 2,000 |
| Washington | $72,800 | about 520 |
| New York | $72,190 | about 610 |
| Louisiana | $68,470 | about 1,000 |
| Georgia | $62,400 | about 550 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, CAD skills, optional certification, specialty, location, and the type of employer or industry. Harder, more responsible tasks may pay more, and some drafters work more than 40 hours a week.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a drafter do?
All drafters not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
At a computer, a drafter turns an engineer’s rough sketch into a precise CAD drawing, adding measurements and materials. They check details with engineers or architects, revise the plan, and sometimes visit a jobsite.
How to get this job
After high school in the U.S., take a drafting program at a community college or technical school; an associate degree usually takes about two years, while certificates may be shorter. A license isn’t needed; certification is optional.
Did you know?
A drafter’s digital drawing can go into building-information software, where a 3-D model lets teams see how parts work together.
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Earn more in the same field
Architecture and Engineering jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/print/drafters.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/earnings.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY