Mechanical Drafters pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $130,490 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Houston earn between $62,360 and $100,300.
- $55K10th
- $62K25th
- $79KMedian
- $100K75th
- $130K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,110 | $7,176 | $41.40 |
| Median | $78,820 | $6,568 | $37.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,360 | $5,197 | $29.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,300 | $8,358 | $48.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Mechanical Drafters salary after taxes in Houston
On the average salary of $86,110, a single filer in Houston takes home about $69,408 a year, or $5,784 a month and $2,670 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $86,110 buys what about $87,307 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 3rd of 9 Texas metro areas for this job; Beaumont pays the most ($91,660).
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 Houston: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Houston?
$41.40 an hour on average, and $37.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Houston?
About $69,408 a year ($5,784 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,110. Texas has no state income tax.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.54, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.