National Salary Info » Drafters

Highest Paying Industries for Drafters

The top 100 highest paying industries for drafters (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $77,920, oil and gas extraction is the highest paying industry for drafters. It is followed by aerospace product and parts manufacturing industry (average annual salary $77,430). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of drafters in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Drafters

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Oil and Gas Extraction	$77,920	$41,400	60
2	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$77,430	$46,960	3,790
3	Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas	$71,920	$43,880	140
4	Pipeline Transportation	$71,650	$42,050	170
5	Rail Transportation	$71,420	$35,000	30
6	Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil	$70,570	$29,520	30
7	Natural Gas Distribution	$69,300	$44,080	330
8	Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing	$68,580	$39,990	n/a
9	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$68,040	$44,340	2,130
10	Utilities	$67,740	$43,870	2,530
11	Federal government, including USPS	$66,460	$49,600	80
12	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$66,460	$49,600	70
13	Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses	$65,040	$32,890	n/a
14	Nonstore Retailers	$65,040	$32,890	n/a
15	Mining (except Oil and Gas)	$64,110	$44,100	50
16	Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$63,090	$34,390	150
17	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$62,870	$40,020	1,180
18	Scientific Research and Development Services	$62,780	$40,000	1,190
19	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	$62,380	$40,320	330
20	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$61,170	$39,600	n/a
21	Mining	$60,640	$35,370	470
22	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	$60,600	$34,500	1,970
23	Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers	$60,400	$41,640	40
24	Remediation and Other Waste Management Services	$60,270	$43,150	30
25	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$60,270	$39,500	130
26	Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction	$60,050	$34,000	410
27	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$59,610	$39,520	9,760
28	Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing	$59,040	$39,460	880
29	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$58,660	$35,770	5,730
30	Facilities Support Services	$58,340	$42,540	50
31	Waste Management and Remediation Services	$58,300	$41,170	60
32	Transportation and Warehousing	$57,760	$33,430	430
33	Software Publishers	$57,580	$34,400	40
34	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$57,570	$37,070	2,570
35	Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services	$57,560	$43,130	40
36	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$57,470	$38,250	850
37	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$57,470	$36,930	2,550
38	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$57,330	$35,540	900
39	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$57,240	$36,530	2,700
40	Support Activities for Mining	$57,240	$33,910	360
41	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$57,050	$40,960	1,150
42	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	$57,000	$35,700	120
43	Information	$56,970	$40,180	1,410
44	Activities Related to Real Estate	$56,890	$38,520	80
45	Telecommunications	$56,830	$39,900	1,190
46	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$56,830	$35,050	n/a
47	Water, Sewage and Other Systems	$56,610	$30,070	70
48	Utility System Construction	$56,520	$34,420	720
49	Chemical Manufacturing	$56,330	$37,010	340
50	Air Transportation	$55,930	$36,810	n/a
51	Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors	$55,900	$34,490	4,430
52	Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors	$55,780	$34,080	3,260
53	Building Equipment Contractors	$55,650	$34,190	8,100
54	Ship and Boat Building	$55,620	$41,780	3,490
55	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$55,520	$36,190	3,670
56	Federal, State, and Local Government	$55,520	$36,190	3,670
57	Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$55,390	$37,870	180
58	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$55,220	$36,020	2,400
59	Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing	$55,160	$35,510	830
60	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$55,060	$33,520	60
61	Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing	$54,910	$36,220	90
62	Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing	$54,820	$33,570	160
63	Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$54,770	$34,210	1,110
64	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$54,620	$33,550	690
65	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$54,150	$35,050	4,240
66	Specialty Trade Contractors	$54,090	$33,750	10,650
67	Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing	$53,800	$35,130	3,410
68	Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing	$53,730	$33,050	300
69	Electrical Equipment Manufacturing	$53,540	$35,300	2,140
70	Engineering Services	$53,500	$33,890	57,670
71	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$53,400	$26,510	200
72	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	$53,050	$34,680	500
73	Lessors of Real Estate	$52,690	$22,580	60
74	Employment Services	$52,600	$32,860	6,240
75	Temporary Help Services	$52,510	$32,830	5,690
76	Construction	$52,420	$32,970	17,170
77	Automotive Repair and Maintenance	$52,370	$33,720	n/a
78	Drywall and Insulation Contractors	$52,370	$39,960	90
79	Testing Laboratories	$52,250	$33,010	560
80	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$52,200	$32,830	6,940
81	Administrative and Support Services	$52,130	$32,790	6,880
82	Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$52,020	$33,760	2,010
83	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$52,010	$34,020	110
84	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$51,690	$33,120	105,350
85	Real Estate	$51,630	$33,190	170
86	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$51,560	$32,560	1,910
87	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$51,530	$33,050	99,970
88	Manufacturing	$51,400	$33,410	52,450
89	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$51,380	$32,100	1,020
90	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$51,250	$34,290	80
91	Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing	$51,240	$37,060	100
92	Other Building Equipment Contractors	$51,230	$32,870	410
93	Specialized Design Services	$51,080	$35,580	1,150
94	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Local government owned	$50,970	$31,190	80
95	Educational Services - Local government owned	$50,910	$29,320	110
96	Educational Services - Privately owned	$50,890	$30,130	130
97	Industrial Machinery Manufacturing	$50,650	$33,540	1,480
98	Elementary and Secondary Schools	$50,380	$31,350	80
99	Food Manufacturing	$50,340	$24,710	60
100	Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$50,310	$30,190	350