How much does an electrical drafter make?
a year · about $37 an hour
A typical electrical drafter in the United States makes $76,870 a year, about $37 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
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.
Did you know? Some electrical drafters draw cross-sections of underground cables, giving installation crews a detailed guide for laying the wires.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $50,040 and $120,290How do you become one?
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.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Ohio ($80,840), lowest in Pennsylvania ($72,720).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| 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 |
Official definition: Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.
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