Mechanical Drafters pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,640 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Lexington earn between $62,720 and $73,170.
- $49K10th
- $63K25th
- $72KMedian
- $73K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,680 | $5,807 | $33.50 |
| Median | $71,520 | $5,960 | $34.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,720 | $5,227 | $30.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,170 | $6,098 | $35.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($70,230) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $69,680 | $71,520 | $49,370 | $93,640 | 100 |
| Kentucky | $70,230 | $68,880 | $50,530 | $96,020 | 510 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $69,680, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $53,612 a year, or $4,468 a month and $2,062 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 (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $69,680 buys what about $75,014 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 3rd of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Elizabethtown pays the most ($74,350).
- Elizabethtown$74,350
- Louisville$70,140
- Lexington$69,680
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 Lexington: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Lexington?
$33.50 an hour on average, and $34.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Lexington?
About $53,612 a year ($4,468 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,680. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.34, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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