How much does a electrical and electronics drafter make?
The median electrical and electronics drafter in the United States earns $73,720 per year, about $35.44 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all electrical and electronics drafters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 17-3012.
Electrical and electronics drafter salary range
Pay for electrical and electronics drafters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $48,680 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $110,180. The average (mean) wage of $77,960 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,680 | $23.41 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $58,800 | $28.27 | |
| Median (50th) | $73,720 | $35.44 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $91,780 | $44.12 | |
| 90th percentile | $110,180 | $52.97 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for electrical and electronics drafters (SOC 17-3012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Electrical and electronics drafter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Electrical and electronics drafters earn the most in New Hampshire at $101,680 a year, and the least in Alabama at $53,490. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $101,680 | 180 |
| Massachusetts | $90,820 | 590 |
| New Mexico | $88,790 | 350 |
| New York | $88,090 | 930 |
| Idaho | $81,730 | 40 |
| Missouri | $80,720 | 330 |
| Ohio | $80,420 | 870 |
| New Jersey | $79,420 | 280 |
| Tennessee | $77,590 | 360 |
| Iowa | $77,050 | 170 |
| Georgia | $76,830 | 470 |
| North Carolina | $76,540 | 360 |
| California | $76,410 | 3,020 |
| Kansas | $75,760 | 250 |
| Oregon | $75,650 | 280 |
| Minnesota | $74,880 | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $73,530 | 370 |
| Maryland | $73,230 | 450 |
| Maine | $71,070 | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $70,180 | 350 |
| Virginia | $70,180 | 410 |
| South Carolina | $69,280 | 340 |
| Washington | $68,580 | 550 |
| Colorado | $68,290 | 800 |
| Kentucky | $66,960 | 180 |
| Illinois | $66,950 | 210 |
| Nevada | $66,560 | 210 |
| Texas | $65,830 | 2,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,610 | 620 |
| Arizona | $65,220 | 530 |
| Florida | $65,100 | 770 |
| Connecticut | $65,080 | 490 |
| Indiana | $64,200 | 310 |
| Utah | $64,200 | 210 |
| Delaware | $62,440 | 60 |
| Michigan | $62,350 | 480 |
| Arkansas | $61,920 | 30 |
| Mississippi | $61,520 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $60,990 | 200 |
| Hawaii | $60,020 | N/A |
| Louisiana | $55,240 | 270 |
| South Dakota | $55,160 | 30 |
| Alabama | $53,490 | 290 |
State median wages for electrical and electronics drafters (SOC 17-3012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for electrical and electronics drafters
The BLS projects employment of electrical and electronics drafters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 3.4%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 18,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 18,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,400 openings a year for electrical and electronics drafters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an electrical and electronics drafter
The typical entry-level education for electrical and electronics drafters is an associate's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an electrical and electronics drafter earns
Discipline, licensure (such as a PE license), industry, and region drive pay. Senior, licensed engineers in high demand fields and expensive metros earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New Hampshire, $101,680) and the lowest (Alabama, $53,490) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 20,020 people work as electrical and electronics drafters in the United States. At $73,720 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Electrical and electronics drafter salary FAQ
How much does an electrical and electronics drafter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an electrical and electronics drafter is $35.44. The middle half of electrical and electronics drafters earn between $28.27 and $44.12 per hour.
What is the highest electrical and electronics drafter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of electrical and electronics drafters earn more than $110,180 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an electrical and electronics drafter make a year?
The median annual salary for an electrical and electronics drafter is $73,720. The average (mean) wage of $77,960 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an electrical and electronics drafter a well paid job?
At $73,720 a year, an electrical and electronics drafter earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 20,020 people work as electrical and electronics drafters in the United States.
Which state pays electrical and electronics drafters the most?
New Hampshire has the highest median salary for electrical and electronics drafters at $101,680 a year. Massachusetts ($90,820) and New Mexico ($88,790) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being an electrical and electronics drafter a good career?
Employment of electrical and electronics drafters is projected to shrink 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an electrical and electronics drafter?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for electrical and electronics drafters as an associate's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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