How much does a electrical drafter make?
Answer: A typical electrical drafter in the United States makes $76,870 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 18,000 people work in this job. Well above 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
Electrical 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,040 | $76,870 | $120,290 | about 18,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $80,840 | about 510 |
| Texas | $80,620 | about 2,000 |
| Colorado | $79,300 | about 750 |
| California | $78,310 | about 3,000 |
| New York | $77,830 | about 850 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, more experience, strong CAD or electronics skills, and optional credentials can help a drafter earn more. Pay also varies by employer and industry, location, specialty such as circuit-board design, and hours worked.
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 electrical drafter do?
Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.
What's a typical day like?
At a computer, electrical drafters turn engineers’ notes into wiring or circuit-board plans and check sizes and connections. They discuss changes with engineers, send drawings to crews, and may visit a jobsite.
How to get this job
After high school, study drafting at a technical school or community college, often earning a certificate or associate degree. Then apply for work; optional certification and electrical-drafter apprenticeships are available.
Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Some electrical drafters draw cross-sections of underground cables, giving installation crews a detailed guide for laying the wires.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)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/drafters.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-3012.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/print/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes173012.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY