Mechanical Drafters pay range in Cleveland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,230 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Cleveland earn between $55,640 and $77,970.
- $48K10th
- $56K25th
- $65KMedian
- $78K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,670 | $5,722 | $33.01 |
| Median | $64,770 | $5,398 | $31.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,640 | $4,637 | $26.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,970 | $6,498 | $37.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Mechanical Drafters salary after taxes in Cleveland
On the average salary of $68,670, a single filer in Cleveland takes home about $53,976 a year, or $4,498 a month and $2,076 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Cleveland's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Is Cleveland a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Cleveland area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.9), so the average $68,670 buys what about $73,113 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Cleveland ($50,140). A typical home costs $252,210, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Ohio cities
Cleveland ranks 4th of 8 Ohio metro areas for this job; Cincinnati pays the most ($77,710).
- Cincinnati$77,710
- Columbus$73,130
- Toledo$69,560
- Cleveland$68,670
- Akron$68,190
- Dayton$66,500
- Canton$66,210
- Youngstown$59,130
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 Cleveland: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Cleveland?
$33.02 an hour on average, and $31.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Cleveland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Cleveland?
About $53,976 a year ($4,498 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,670. Includes Cleveland's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Cleveland than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than 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 Cleveland, OH (17410). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 Cleveland's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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