Mechanical Drafters pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,680 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Charleston earn between $66,930 and $99,580.
- $57K10th
- $67K25th
- $78KMedian
- $100K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,810 | $7,068 | $40.77 |
| Median | $77,670 | $6,472 | $37.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,930 | $5,578 | $32.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,580 | $8,298 | $47.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Charleston earn 18% more than the South Carolina average ($72,080) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $84,810 | $77,670 | $57,400 | $125,680 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $72,080 | $63,740 | $52,550 | $109,840 | 640 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $84,810, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $65,186 a year, or $5,432 a month and $2,507 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).
Is Charleston a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $84,810 buys what about $84,002 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$84,810
- Greenville$79,780
- Florence$64,580
- Columbia$64,320
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 Charleston: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Charleston?
$40.78 an hour on average, and $37.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Charleston?
About $65,186 a year ($5,432 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,810.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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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