National Salary Info » Mechanical Drafters

Highest Paying Industries for Mechanical Drafters

The top 100 highest paying industries for mechanical 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 $74,650, aerospace product and parts manufacturing is the highest paying industry for mechanical drafters. It is followed by pipeline transportation industry (average annual salary $73,200). 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 mechanical drafters in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Mechanical Drafters

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$74,650	$44,980	3,020
2	Pipeline Transportation	$73,200	$45,710	110
3	Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas	$73,100	$46,260	110
4	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$65,400	$45,240	140
5	Mining	$64,900	$37,410	250
6	Support Activities for Mining	$63,420	$36,170	230
7	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$62,980	$41,600	500
8	Scientific Research and Development Services	$62,980	$41,600	500
9	Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$62,730	$34,080	140
10	Utilities	$62,030	$44,080	210
11	Natural Gas Distribution	$59,610	$41,760	60
12	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$59,280	$41,820	100
13	Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing	$58,940	$38,660	800
14	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	$58,760	$35,040	110
15	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$58,270	$40,400	110
16	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$58,190	$39,610	8,480
17	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$57,660	$37,370	40
18	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$57,430	$36,750	1,520
19	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	$57,180	$41,240	90
20	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$56,530	$36,950	1,090
21	Transportation and Warehousing	$56,250	$35,520	250
22	Engineering Services	$55,960	$34,210	13,230
23	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$55,860	$35,370	2,510
24	Ship and Boat Building	$55,830	$42,420	3,270
25	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$55,770	$40,480	150
26	Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing	$55,330	$39,040	80
27	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$55,290	$33,690	16,500
28	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$55,290	$41,160	340
29	Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing	$55,200	$32,050	100
30	Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing	$55,130	$34,890	110
31	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$55,070	$33,400	15,360
32	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	$54,690	$33,590	610
33	Chemical Manufacturing	$54,460	$37,070	200
34	Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors	$54,340	$32,860	1,510
35	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$54,070	$32,520	200
36	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$53,840	$41,130	110
37	Paper Manufacturing	$53,770	$35,040	100
38	Electrical Equipment Manufacturing	$53,610	$35,330	900
39	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	$53,590	$36,560	380
40	Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors	$53,560	$32,700	150
41	Converted Paper Product Manufacturing	$53,550	$35,010	90
42	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$53,530	$36,630	260
43	Federal, State, and Local Government	$53,530	$36,630	260
44	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$53,260	$35,520	330
45	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$53,110	$35,720	70
46	Educational Services - State government owned	$53,110	$35,720	70
47	Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing	$53,020	$35,310	1,510
48	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$52,790	$34,140	680
49	Specialized Design Services	$52,610	$39,740	140
50	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$52,480	$35,390	70
51	Building Equipment Contractors	$52,450	$32,790	1,830
52	Testing Laboratories	$52,240	$32,080	290
53	Specialty Trade Contractors	$52,120	$32,460	2,040
54	Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing	$52,090	$35,230	370
55	Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$51,780	$32,390	310
56	Lime and Gypsum Product Manufacturing	$51,710	$33,370	40
57	Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing	$51,590	$32,940	710
58	Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing	$51,440	$35,650	80
59	Manufacturing	$51,180	$33,460	37,610
60	Security Systems Services	$51,130	$35,440	60
61	Investigation and Security Services	$51,130	$35,440	60
62	Temporary Help Services	$50,970	$32,910	2,720
63	Employment Services	$50,950	$32,910	2,850
64	Administrative and Support Services	$50,920	$33,020	2,970
65	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$50,920	$33,020	2,980
66	Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$50,510	$33,470	1,730
67	Food Manufacturing	$50,350	$24,020	60
68	Educational Services	$50,280	$28,380	100
69	Office Administrative Services	$50,280	$41,520	40
70	State government, including schools and hospitals	$50,260	$34,460	210
71	Foundries	$50,180	$32,240	160
72	Industrial Machinery Manufacturing	$50,070	$33,600	1,260
73	Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing	$49,870	$31,230	160
74	Metal and Mineral (except Petroleum) Merchant Wholesalers	$49,790	$33,120	200
75	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$49,720	$34,420	150
76	Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing	$49,650	$29,970	40
77	Wholesale Trade	$49,620	$32,930	1,840
78	Construction	$49,580	$33,390	2,610
79	Machinery Manufacturing	$49,520	$32,490	11,110
80	Household Appliance Manufacturing	$49,440	$35,560	130
81	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$49,350	$35,410	50
82	Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing	$49,030	$32,000	3,020
83	Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing	$48,940	$32,740	150
84	Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$48,850	$35,860	80
85	Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Container Manufacturing	$48,760	$32,710	1,290
86	Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing	$48,740	$36,370	30
87	Information	$48,560	$36,050	30
88	Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing	$48,400	$33,140	1,270
89	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$48,310	$31,140	260
90	Primary Metal Manufacturing	$48,270	$32,670	410
91	Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing	$48,180	$30,610	2,110
92	Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$48,160	$32,250	610
93	Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing	$47,920	$32,480	1,940
94	Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors	$47,910	$33,400	210
95	Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing	$47,840	$32,790	1,140
96	Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing	$47,810	$33,070	80
97	Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing	$47,640	$31,360	200
98	Forging and Stamping	$47,610	$31,790	490
99	Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$47,610	$32,530	9,960
100	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	$47,580	$31,990	1,470