Mechanical Drafters pay range in Roanoke
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,390 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Roanoke earn between $61,280 and $78,630.
- $51K10th
- $61K25th
- $67KMedian
- $79K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,830 | $5,819 | $33.57 |
| Median | $66,560 | $5,547 | $32.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,280 | $5,107 | $29.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,630 | $6,552 | $37.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Roanoke vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Roanoke earn about the same as the Virginia average ($71,730) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | $69,830 | $66,560 | $50,560 | $89,390 | 60 |
| Virginia | $71,730 | $69,630 | $47,840 | $94,800 | 630 |
| 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 Roanoke
On the average salary of $69,830, a single filer in Roanoke takes home about $54,754 a year, or $4,563 a month and $2,106 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Roanoke a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Roanoke area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.6), so the average $69,830 buys what about $74,590 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Roanoke ($47,140). A typical home costs $301,139, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Virginia cities
Roanoke ranks 3rd of 4 Virginia metro areas for this job; Virginia Beach pays the most ($74,650).
- Virginia Beach$74,650
- Richmond$72,920
- Roanoke$69,830
- Lynchburg$63,620
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 Roanoke: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Roanoke?
$33.57 an hour on average, and $32.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Roanoke?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Roanoke?
About $54,754 a year ($4,563 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,830.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Roanoke 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 Roanoke, VA (40220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.59, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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