Mechanical Drafters pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,160 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Los Angeles earn between $65,570 and $102,860.
- $49K10th
- $66K25th
- $81KMedian
- $103K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,410 | $7,201 | $41.54 |
| Median | $80,780 | $6,732 | $38.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,570 | $5,464 | $31.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,860 | $8,572 | $49.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Los Angeles earn about the same as the California average ($86,750) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $86,410 | $80,780 | $49,130 | $128,160 | 1,480 |
| California | $86,750 | $82,510 | $50,200 | $128,160 | 3,640 |
| United States | $75,060 | $71,550 | $48,360 | $106,580 | 39,960 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Drafters salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $86,410, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $65,675 a year, or $5,473 a month and $2,526 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $86,410 buys what about $76,088 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 11.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 4th of 13 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($101,310).
- San Jose$101,310
- San Francisco$98,950
- San Diego$90,030
- Los Angeles$86,410
- San Luis Obispo$83,240
- Santa Maria$82,960
- Sacramento$81,410
- Oxnard$81,300
- Bakersfield$80,990
- Stockton$80,270
Highest-paying cities for mechanical drafters
Boulder, CO pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($109,830).
- Boulder, CO$109,830
- Albuquerque, NM$104,030
- San Jose, CA$101,310
- San Francisco, CA$98,950
- Seattle, WA$98,470
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Mechanical Drafters salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Los Angeles?
$41.54 an hour on average, and $38.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $65,675 a year ($5,473 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,410. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more than the U.S. average for this job ($75,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-3013; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.