Mechanical Drafters pay range in Grand Rapids
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $116,220 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Grand Rapids earn between $63,870 and $98,680.
- $50K10th
- $64K25th
- $74KMedian
- $99K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,580 | $6,548 | $37.78 |
| Median | $74,490 | $6,208 | $35.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,870 | $5,322 | $30.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,680 | $8,223 | $47.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Mechanical Drafters salary after taxes in Grand Rapids
On the average salary of $78,580, a single filer in Grand Rapids takes home about $59,926 a year, or $4,994 a month and $2,305 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). Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Is Grand Rapids a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Grand Rapids area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $78,580 buys what about $82,243 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Grand Rapids ($47,570). A typical home costs $359,923, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Michigan cities
Grand Rapids ranks 2nd of 8 Michigan metro areas for this job; Detroit pays the most ($79,190).
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 Grand Rapids: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Grand Rapids?
$37.78 an hour on average, and $35.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Grand Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Grand Rapids?
About $59,926 a year ($4,994 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,580. Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Grand Rapids than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. metro average for this job ($77,347).
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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (24340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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). Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.35, this job is 2.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.