Drafter salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A drafter earns a median of $63,520 a year ($30.54 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $68,250. About 14,470 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $63,520
- Gross pay
- $2,443.08
- Federal income tax
- −$209.32
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$151.47
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$35.42
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,046.86
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $63,520
- Federal
- $5,442
- FICA
- $4,859
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $53,218
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Similar jobs
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician: $64,950
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician: $66,120
- Architectural and Civil Drafter: $66,150
- Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician: $59,920
- Calibration Technologist and Technician: $67,820
- Mechanical Drafter: $71,550
- Surveying and Mapping Technician: $54,240
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician: $73,900
BLS occupation: Drafters, All Other. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 17-3019). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a drafter make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $30.54; the average is $32.81.
What is the salary range for a drafter?
The bottom 10% earn under $43,420 and the top 10% earn over $99,380 a year.
How much is $63,520 after taxes?
About $53,218 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $50,536 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.