Mechanical Drafters

Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.

What a Mechanical Drafters does

Create detailed technical drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, machinery, and industrial systems. They use CAD software to design parts and assemblies that guide manufacturing and assembly processes.

Education & path

The typical entry point is a associate degree. About 2 years.

Estimated cost of that path: ~$7,500. Estimated payback: ~1 year. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.

Related careers

• Civil Engineers — $100,840/yr
• Transportation Engineers — $100,840/yr
• Water/Wastewater Engineers — $100,840/yr
• Manufacturing Engineers — $102,440/yr
• Validation Engineers — $102,440/yr