Mechanical Drafters pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $129,490 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in San Luis Obispo earn between $66,340 and $100,120.
- $58K10th
- $66K25th
- $76KMedian
- $100K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,240 | $6,937 | $40.02 |
| Median | $75,560 | $6,297 | $36.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,340 | $5,528 | $31.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,120 | $8,343 | $48.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in San Luis Obispo earn 4% less than the California average ($86,750) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $83,240 | $75,560 | $57,700 | $129,490 | 30 |
| California | $86,750 | $82,510 | $50,200 | $128,160 | 3,640 |
| 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 San Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $83,240, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $63,740 a year, or $5,312 a month and $2,452 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Luis Obispo a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $83,240 buys what about $76,651 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 10.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 5th of 13 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($101,310).
- San Jose$101,310
- San Francisco$98,950
- San Diego$90,030
- Los Angeles$86,410
- San Luis Obispo$83,240
- Santa Maria$82,960
- Sacramento$81,410
- Oxnard$81,300
- Bakersfield$80,990
- Stockton$80,270
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 San Luis Obispo: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$40.02 an hour on average, and $36.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $63,740 a year ($5,312 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,240. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more 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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- 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). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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