Mechanical Drafter salary in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Mechanical Drafters in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median of $83,200 a year ($40.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,260 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $71,550. Pay here is 5% higher than the Texas statewide median of $79,380. There are 0.40 mechanical drafters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $81,680, close to the median.
Pay range for mechanical drafters in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,440 | $27.14 |
| 25th percentile | $71,740 | $34.49 |
| Median | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| 75th percentile | $93,600 | $45.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,260 | $45.32 |
| Average (mean) | $81,680 | $39.27 |
Half of mechanical drafters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,933.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,466.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,200 |
| Weekly | $1,600 |
| Hourly | $40.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $83,200 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Mechanical Drafter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $87,220 | 120 |
| Midland, TX | $86,100 | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $78,820 | 1,300 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $78,110 | 190 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $77,160 | 310 |
| Longview, TX | $71,790 | 60 |
| Amarillo, TX | $58,580 | 40 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $47,400 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical drafters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $89,940 |
| Colorado | $85,280 |
| New Jersey | $83,380 |
| California | $82,510 |
| Texas | $79,380 |
| Louisiana | $77,730 |
| North Dakota | $77,570 |
| Washington | $76,820 |
| Maryland | $76,740 |
| New York | $76,490 |
See Mechanical Drafter pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,890 | $32.16 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $75,580 | $36.34 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $45,460 | $21.86 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $71,930 | $34.58 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $62,010 | $29.81 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $64,150 | $30.84 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $65,360 | $31.42 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $83,100 | $39.95 |
| Drafters, All Other | $61,200 | $29.43 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $71,910 | $34.57 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $52,160 | $25.08 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $98,800 | $47.50 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $56,950 | $27.38 |
| Industrial Engineer | $105,640 | $50.79 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-3013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical drafter make in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
The median salary for mechanical drafters in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $83,200 a year, or $40.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical drafters make in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
The top 10% of mechanical drafters in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn at least $94,260 a year. The top 25% earn $93,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical drafters in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,440 a year, and a quarter of mechanical drafters earn $71,740 or less.
How many mechanical drafters work in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
About 1,620 mechanical drafters are employed in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.