Mechanical Drafters pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,380 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Louisville earn between $56,580 and $74,990.
- $48K10th
- $57K25th
- $73KMedian
- $75K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,140 | $5,845 | $33.72 |
| Median | $73,030 | $6,086 | $35.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,580 | $4,715 | $27.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,990 | $6,249 | $36.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Louisville earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($70,230) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $70,140 | $73,030 | $47,520 | $99,380 | 230 |
| Kentucky | $70,230 | $68,880 | $50,530 | $96,020 | 510 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $70,140, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $54,293 a year, or $4,524 a month and $2,088 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $56,099 | $4,675 |
| Working in KY | $54,293 | $4,524 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $70,140 buys what about $75,359 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 2nd of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Elizabethtown pays the most ($74,350).
- Elizabethtown$74,350
- Louisville$70,140
- Lexington$69,680
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
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Mechanical Drafters salary in Louisville: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Louisville?
$33.72 an hour on average, and $35.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Louisville?
About $54,293 a year ($4,524 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,140. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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