Electrical and electronics drafters salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,040 | $24.06 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $76,870 | $36.96 |
| Mean (average) | $81,280 | $39.08 |
| 90th percentile | $120,290 | $57.83 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Electrical and electronics drafters pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 46 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $51,650 | $36,280 | $92,200 | 300 | 1.23 |
| Alaska | Data unavailable | 80 | 2.01 | ||
| Arizona | $73,080 | $48,860 | $123,520 | 570 | 1.53 |
| California | $78,310 | $50,620 | $146,810 | 2,730 | 1.3 |
| Colorado | $79,300 | $57,410 | $132,970 | 750 | 2.27 |
| Connecticut | $66,980 | $51,400 | $129,890 | 430 | 2.22 |
| Delaware | $63,460 | $47,470 | $93,070 | 60 | 1.03 |
| Florida | $73,010 | $44,920 | $95,950 | 660 | 0.58 |
| Georgia | $80,620 | $50,480 | $138,440 | 470 | 0.83 |
| Hawaii | $68,050 | $46,700 | $97,080 | 80 | 1.12 |
| Idaho | $81,590 | $42,210 | $134,020 | 100 | 1.03 |
| Illinois | $68,310 | $53,500 | $99,610 | 150 | 0.21 |
| Indiana | $80,100 | $60,950 | $113,950 | 360 | 0.96 |
| Iowa | $74,470 | $49,560 | $105,910 | 180 | 1.02 |
| Kansas | $60,730 | $40,890 | $95,960 | 210 | 1.24 |
| Kentucky | $79,050 | $48,950 | $95,110 | 80 | 0.35 |
| Louisiana | $62,550 | $40,360 | $138,330 | 150 | 0.68 |
| Maine | $75,100 | $48,450 | $82,050 | 110 | 1.55 |
| Maryland | $75,680 | $57,230 | $115,730 | 380 | 1.2 |
| Massachusetts | $87,290 | $55,880 | $120,280 | 470 | 1.13 |
| Michigan | $73,860 | $51,530 | $109,570 | 380 | 0.74 |
| Minnesota | $77,330 | $63,060 | $99,570 | 250 | 0.74 |
| Mississippi | $58,780 | $44,320 | $103,720 | 110 | 0.83 |
| Missouri | $76,690 | $54,970 | $113,930 | 420 | 1.25 |
| Nebraska | $59,570 | $47,590 | $93,410 | 190 | 1.63 |
| Nevada | $71,310 | $48,860 | $103,990 | 250 | 1.38 |
| New Hampshire | $102,070 | $64,020 | $127,820 | 220 | 2.78 |
| New Jersey | $77,600 | $55,130 | $112,490 | 240 | 0.48 |
| New Mexico | $101,330 | $55,000 | $124,470 | 390 | 3.93 |
| New York | $77,830 | $58,340 | $125,050 | 850 | 0.76 |
| North Carolina | $81,960 | $55,640 | $99,770 | 430 | 0.75 |
| North Dakota | Data unavailable | 90 | 1.9 | ||
| Ohio | $80,840 | $50,680 | $101,880 | 510 | 0.8 |
| Oklahoma | $69,520 | $50,880 | $92,710 | 290 | 1.47 |
| Oregon | $78,170 | $53,200 | $121,500 | 330 | 1.44 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,720 | $50,700 | $105,240 | 500 | 0.71 |
| Puerto Rico | $56,480 | $30,660 | $76,250 | 180 | 1.64 |
| South Carolina | $76,440 | $55,720 | $92,060 | 290 | 1.09 |
| South Dakota | $50,840 | $38,860 | $73,310 | 40 | 0.76 |
| Tennessee | $77,180 | $56,480 | $98,020 | 340 | 0.91 |
| Texas | $80,620 | $49,920 | $107,710 | 1,840 | 1.13 |
| Utah | $79,360 | $44,880 | $106,630 | 290 | 1.47 |
| Virginia | $64,650 | $44,580 | $107,630 | 280 | 0.59 |
| Washington | $72,250 | $53,370 | $109,480 | 390 | 0.96 |
| Wisconsin | $75,650 | $62,300 | $97,740 | 470 | 1.4 |
| Wyoming | $64,690 | $50,800 | $81,740 | 40 | 1.12 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for electrical and electronics drafters
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for electrical and electronics drafters
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0303
- Integrated Circuit Design Technology/Technician CIP 15.0306
- Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0403
- Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General CIP 15.1301
- CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician CIP 15.1302
- Electrical/Electronics Drafting and Electrical/Electronics CAD/CADD CIP 15.1305
- 3-D Modeling and Design Technology/Technician CIP 15.1307
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Draft detail and assembly drawings of design components, circuitry or printed circuit boards, using computer-assisted equipment or standard drafting techniques and devices.
- Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications, or cross-sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew.
- Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets to be checked by an engineer or an architect.
- Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations.
- Consult with engineers to discuss or interpret design concepts, or determine requirements of detailed working drawings.
- Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
- Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as distances to be spanned by wire and cable.
- Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (in demand)
- Autodesk Revit (in demand)
- Bentley MicroStation (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Autodesk Navisworks (in demand)
- NavisWorks Jetstream (in demand)
- Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- C (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Computer-Aided Design Operator, Designer, Drafter, Drafting Technician (Drafting Tech), Electrical Designer, Electrical Drafter, Layout Designer, Printed Circuit Board Designer (PCB Designer), Staking Engineer, Staking Technician (Staking Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do electrical and electronics drafters make?
The national median annual wage for electrical and electronics drafters was $76,870 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $50,040 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $120,290. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do electrical and electronics drafters need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is electrical and electronics drafters a growing career?
BLS projects employment of electrical and electronics drafters to change -3.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay electrical and electronics drafters the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Hampshire ($102,070), New Mexico ($101,330), Massachusetts ($87,290). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.