Mechanical Drafters pay range in Minneapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,990 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Minneapolis earn between $65,510 and $82,310.
- $57K10th
- $66K25th
- $76KMedian
- $82K75th
- $102K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,920 | $6,493 | $37.46 |
| Median | $75,770 | $6,314 | $36.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,510 | $5,459 | $31.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,310 | $6,859 | $39.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Minneapolis vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Minneapolis earn 6% more than the Minnesota average ($73,850) and 4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $77,920 | $75,770 | $57,130 | $101,990 | 830 |
| Minnesota | $73,850 | $73,090 | $52,380 | $100,080 | 1,220 |
| 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 Minneapolis
On the average salary of $77,920, a single filer in Minneapolis takes home about $59,872 a year, or $4,989 a month and $2,303 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $60,530 | $5,044 |
| Working in MN | $59,872 | $4,989 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Minneapolis a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Minneapolis area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.8), so the average $77,920 buys what about $74,336 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Minneapolis ($59,320). A typical home costs $393,774, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Minnesota cities
Minneapolis ranks 1st of 4 Minnesota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Minneapolis: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Minneapolis?
$37.46 an hour on average, and $36.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Minneapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Minneapolis?
About $59,872 a year ($4,989 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,920. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Minneapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (33460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.66, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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