Mechanical Drafters pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $122,860 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Lafayette earn between $54,450 and $95,240.
- $37K10th
- $54K25th
- $61KMedian
- $95K75th
- $123K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,060 | $5,838 | $33.68 |
| Median | $61,240 | $5,103 | $29.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,450 | $4,538 | $26.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $95,240 | $7,937 | $45.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Lafayette earn 19% less than the Louisiana average ($86,680) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $70,060 | $61,240 | $37,440 | $122,860 | 50 |
| Louisiana | $86,680 | $77,730 | $44,460 | $142,240 | 420 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $70,060, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $56,402 a year, or $4,700 a month and $2,169 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $70,060 buys what about $80,336 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 3rd of 3 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($84,980).
- New Orleans$84,980
- Baton Rouge$82,960
- Lafayette$70,060
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 Lafayette: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Lafayette?
$33.68 an hour on average, and $29.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $56,402 a year ($4,700 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,060.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Lafayette 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 Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.1%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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