Engineering
Mechanical Drafters
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.
Median salary (BLS)
$71,550
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$48k – $107k
Job outlook
No separate BLS projection for this specific role
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $99,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Mechanical Drafters
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Mechanical Drafters
Entry / Junior
$48,360
~2 yrs to advance
Mechanical Drafters
Established
$71,550
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Mechanical Drafters
Senior
$89,065
Key skills
A typical day
- •Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.
- •Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- •Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
- •Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
- •Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Engineering
Explore all- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
- Georgia Institute of Technology16% admit · $99,000 grad pay
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign45% admit · $80,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.