Mechanical Drafters salary
in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Middle 50%
- $77,320–$118,980
- vs U.S. median
- +36%
- Metro rank
- #2 of 41
Mechanical Drafters in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro earn a median of $97,450 a year, based on BLS estimates for 240 jobs (May 2025). That is 36% above the U.S. median of $71,550 and 18% above the CA statewide median of $82,510. It ranks #2 of 41 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE240 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Mechanical Drafters pay in other CA metros
4 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,310 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,550 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,780 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $75,610 |
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Questions
What is the average Mechanical Drafters salary in San Jose?
The BLS median is $97,450 a year (May 2025). Half of the 240 jobs pay between $77,320 and $118,980. The 10th percentile is $63,310 and the 90th is $134,590.
Is San Jose a high-paying metro for Mechanical Drafters?
That is 36% above the U.S. median of $71,550 and 18% above the CA statewide median of $82,510. It ranks #2 of 41 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Mechanical Drafters make an hour in San Jose?
About $46.85 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $97,450 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $37.17–$57.20 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.