Mechanical Drafters pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,430 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Indianapolis earn between $58,220 and $83,430.
- $49K10th
- $58K25th
- $69KMedian
- $83K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,850 | $5,904 | $34.06 |
| Median | $69,240 | $5,770 | $33.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,220 | $4,852 | $27.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,430 | $6,952 | $40.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Indianapolis earn 9% more than the Indiana average ($65,210) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $70,850 | $69,240 | $49,200 | $95,430 | 310 |
| Indiana | $65,210 | $62,820 | $45,470 | $88,470 | 1,300 |
| 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 Indianapolis
On the average salary of $70,850, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $55,166 a year, or $4,597 a month and $2,122 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $70,850 buys what about $74,037 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 1st of 5 Indiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Indianapolis$70,850
- Columbus$68,110
- Fort Wayne$63,960
- Evansville$60,210
- Elkhart$58,620
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 Indianapolis: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Indianapolis?
$34.06 an hour on average, and $33.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $55,166 a year ($4,597 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,850. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less 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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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