Mechanical Drafters pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,110 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Wilmington earn between $46,830 and $65,370.
- $42K10th
- $47K25th
- $50KMedian
- $65K75th
- $102K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,420 | $4,952 | $28.57 |
| Median | $50,150 | $4,179 | $24.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,830 | $3,902 | $22.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,370 | $5,448 | $31.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Wilmington earn 4% less than the North Carolina average ($62,030) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is -30% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $59,420 | $50,150 | $42,310 | $102,110 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $62,030 | $59,050 | $45,490 | $84,560 | 1,350 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $59,420, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $48,062 a year, or $4,005 a month and $1,849 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $59,420 buys what about $61,625 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 6th of 8 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($70,710).
- Durham$70,710
- Charlotte$65,860
- Greensboro$64,790
- Raleigh$64,720
- Winston-Salem$60,880
- Wilmington$59,420
- Asheville$57,550
- Hickory$53,510
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 Wilmington: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Wilmington?
$28.57 an hour on average, and $24.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $48,062 a year ($4,005 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,420.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.9%.
- 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).
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