Mechanical Drafters pay range in Reno
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $126,370 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Reno earn between $42,640 and $94,970.
- $43K10th
- $43K25th
- $63KMedian
- $95K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,730 | $6,144 | $35.45 |
| Median | $63,180 | $5,265 | $30.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,640 | $3,553 | $20.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $94,970 | $7,914 | $45.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Reno vs. Nevada and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Reno earn 6% less than the Nevada average ($78,230) and about the same as the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reno | $73,730 | $63,180 | $42,640 | $126,370 | 70 |
| Nevada | $78,230 | $75,830 | $43,010 | $123,050 | 250 |
| 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 Reno
On the average salary of $73,730, a single filer in Reno takes home about $60,699 a year, or $5,058 a month and $2,335 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Reno a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Reno area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $73,730 buys what about $72,990 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Reno ($49,660). A typical home costs $570,546, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Nevada cities
Reno ranks 2nd of 2 Nevada metro areas for this job; Las Vegas pays the most ($80,960).
- Las Vegas$80,960
- Reno$73,730
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 Reno: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Reno?
$35.45 an hour on average, and $30.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Reno?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Reno?
About $60,699 a year ($5,058 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,730. Nevada has no state income tax.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Reno than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Reno, NV (39900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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