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Occupation · SOC 17-3013

Mechanical Drafters

There are 39,960 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $71,550 a year. The most jobs are in Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX.

Architecture & EngineeringTypical education: Associate's degree
39,960
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$71,550
Median pay a year
Middle half: $58,080–$86,120
2,900
Annual openings
10-year change: −6%
7
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
One employer filed 57% of them

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 182 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $83,200 · LCA filings 01,620$83,2000
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $80,780 · LCA filings 11,480$80,7801
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $78,820 · LCA filings 01,300$78,8200
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $84,070 · LCA filings 01,180$84,0700
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $94,470 · LCA filings 01,020$94,4700
Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, MIMedian pay $75,050 · LCA filings 0970$75,0500
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $75,770 · LCA filings 0830$75,7700
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $74,100 · LCA filings 0730$74,1000
Portland–South Portland, MEMedian pay $76,360 · LCA filings 0570$76,3600
Pittsburgh, PAMedian pay $69,550 · LCA filings 0540$69,5500

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Boulder, COEmployment 60 · LCA filings 1$102,710601
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 390 · LCA filings 0$98,3103900
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 240 · LCA filings 0$97,4502400
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 1,020 · LCA filings 0$94,4701,0200
Albuquerque, NMEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$94,140500

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 34041340
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 1,480111,480
Boulder, COEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 601160
Waterbury–Shelton, CTEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 601160

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $71,906 · Level III $81,578 · Level IV $91,270$62,213$71,906$81,578$91,270
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $71,739 · Level III $86,278 · Level IV $100,797$57,221$71,739$86,278$100,797
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $71,365 · Level III $85,966 · Level IV $100,589$56,742$71,365$85,966$100,589
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $76,170 · Level III $88,171 · Level IV $100,173$64,168$76,170$88,171$100,173
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $80,558 · Level III $98,280 · Level IV $116,022$62,816$80,558$98,280$116,022
Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, MILevel II $65,000 · Level III $79,040 · Level IV $93,101$50,939$65,000$79,040$93,101
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $69,077 · Level III $77,834 · Level IV $86,590$60,320$69,077$77,834$86,590
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $67,309 · Level III $80,954 · Level IV $94,619$53,643$67,309$80,954$94,619
Portland–South Portland, MELevel II $63,357 · Level III $69,014 · Level IV $74,651$57,720$63,357$69,014$74,651
Pittsburgh, PALevel II $61,318 · Level III $71,219 · Level IV $81,120$51,418$61,318$71,219$81,120
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $61,838 · Level III $73,341 · Level IV $84,864$50,315$61,838$73,341$84,864
Boulder, COLevel II $92,144 · Level III $109,658 · Level IV $127,192$74,610$92,144$109,658$127,192
Waterbury–Shelton, CTLevel II $59,779 · Level III $71,406 · Level IV $83,034$48,152$59,779$71,406$83,034

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/TechniciansCIP 15.13Varies by program518Varies by program
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansCIP 15.08Varies by program208Varies by program

See Mechanical Drafters in every metro area

All 182 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Related occupations · Architecture & Engineering

Industrial EngineersCivil EngineersMechanical EngineersElectrical EngineersArchitectural and Civil DraftersEngineers, All OtherElectrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansArchitects, except Landscape and Naval

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology