Mechanical Drafters Salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Median annual salary $73,760 +7.7% vs national
Median hourly $35.46
10th percentile $47,110
90th percentile $113,100
Employed locally 720
National median $68,510

Compare Mechanical Drafters salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Mechanical Drafters
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,110
    25th
    $60,680
    50th (median)
    $73,760
    75th
    $85,470
    90th
    $113,100

    Philadelphia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,273 2023 • Census ACS
    Mechanical Drafters salary vs area income 83% Median Mechanical Drafters salary is 17% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Mechanical Drafters

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $111,820
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $94,180
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $88,540
    Colorado Springs, CO $87,860
    Boulder, CO $86,500
    Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $86,230

    Nearby metros — Mechanical Drafters salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $84,640
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $75,560
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $73,980
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $71,200
    Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $70,270
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $69,850

    Related occupations in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Civil Engineers $96,630
    Industrial Engineers $101,040
    Mechanical Engineers $102,180
    Electrical Engineers $125,350
    Architects, Except Landscape and Naval $100,370
    Architectural and Civil Drafters $65,300

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Mechanical Drafters make per hour in Philadelphia?

    The median hourly wage for Mechanical Drafters in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $35.46, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $62.65 or more per hour.

    Is Philadelphia above or below average for Mechanical Drafters salaries?

    The median Mechanical Drafters salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is 7.7% above the national median of $68,510. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Mechanical Drafters in Philadelphia?

    Entry-level Mechanical Drafters (10th percentile) earn around $47,110 per year in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $60,680.