Mechanical Drafters pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $130,870 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in San Diego earn between $68,470 and $107,380.
- $60K10th
- $68K25th
- $84KMedian
- $107K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $90,030 | $7,502 | $43.28 |
| Median | $83,550 | $6,962 | $40.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,470 | $5,706 | $32.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,380 | $8,948 | $51.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in San Diego earn 4% more than the California average ($86,750) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $90,030 | $83,550 | $59,780 | $130,870 | 370 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $90,030, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $67,885 a year, or $5,657 a month and $2,611 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 San Diego a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $90,030 buys what about $80,465 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 10.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 3rd 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 San Diego: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in San Diego?
$43.28 an hour on average, and $40.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in San Diego?
About $67,885 a year ($5,657 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $90,030. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.