Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

17-3013 Mechanical Drafters

Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
63,220 1.4 % $25.61 $53,270 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $15.72 $19.28 $24.21 $30.31 $37.96
Annual Wage (2) $32,690 $40,100 $50,360 $63,050 $78,960

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 14,260 1.10 $26.24 $54,580
Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing 4,190 1.23 $22.69 $47,200
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 3,870 0.79 $33.30 $69,270
Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing 3,130 1.26 $23.81 $49,520
Ship and Boat Building 2,890 2.30 $26.54 $55,200

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Ship and Boat Building 2,890 2.30 $26.54 $55,200
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 2,690 1.53 $23.87 $49,650
Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Container Manufacturing 1,350 1.44 $24.62 $51,210
Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing 3,130 1.26 $23.81 $49,520
Industrial Machinery Manufacturing 1,320 1.26 $24.63 $51,230

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 3,870 0.79 $33.30 $69,270
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 80 0.29 $33.18 $69,000
Building Finishing Contractors 50 0.01 $31.32 $65,140
Scientific Research and Development Services 500 0.08 $29.86 $62,120
Local Government (OES Designation) 120 (7) $29.70 $61,780

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 4,610 0.44 0.90 $27.85 $57,940
California 4,500 0.31 0.65 $27.72 $57,660
Pennsylvania 4,350 0.78 1.60 $23.41 $48,700
Michigan 4,350 1.11 2.29 $23.77 $49,450
Ohio 2,990 0.59 1.22 $22.57 $46,950




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Connecticut 1,950 1.20 2.48 $27.02 $56,190
Michigan 4,350 1.11 2.29 $23.77 $49,450
Maine 620 1.06 2.18 $25.16 $52,340
Minnesota 2,770 1.05 2.16 $26.78 $55,700
Wisconsin 2,790 1.04 2.15 $24.27 $50,480




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 120 0.39 0.80 $35.32 $73,460
Washington 2,700 0.98 2.01 $34.31 $71,370
District of Columbia 40 0.06 0.13 $29.55 $61,470
New Jersey 1,360 0.36 0.74 $29.33 $61,010
Massachusetts 1,120 0.35 0.72 $28.95 $60,220





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 2,250 1.60 3.29 $35.94 $74,750
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2,140 1.22 2.52 $28.17 $58,590
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 1,750 0.66 1.37 $29.74 $61,860
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 1,370 1.28 2.63 $24.79 $51,560
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 1,150 0.30 0.61 $25.95 $53,980
Pittsburgh, PA 1,100 0.97 2.01 $22.67 $47,150
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 1,060 0.21 0.42 $30.13 $62,660
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 1,040 0.57 1.17 $27.14 $56,460
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 990 0.27 0.56 $25.50 $53,040
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 910 1.13 2.33 $25.32 $52,660




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Columbus, IN 160 3.47 7.16 $24.38 $50,700
Erie, PA 270 2.11 4.35 $19.20 $39,930
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 740 1.93 3.98 $22.68 $47,160
Wausau, WI 120 1.80 3.70 $19.50 $40,560
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 100 1.80 3.71 $23.24 $48,340
Holland-Grand Haven, MI 170 1.68 3.46 $20.57 $42,790
Green Bay, WI 270 1.64 3.37 $26.47 $55,050
York-Hanover, PA 280 1.63 3.35 $23.82 $49,550
Tulsa, OK 660 1.60 3.30 $26.77 $55,680
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 2,250 1.60 3.29 $35.94 $74,750