Mechanical Drafters pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,100 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Columbia earn between $50,780 and $77,520.
- $36K10th
- $51K25th
- $61KMedian
- $78K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,320 | $5,360 | $30.92 |
| Median | $61,300 | $5,108 | $29.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,780 | $4,232 | $24.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,520 | $6,460 | $37.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Columbia earn 11% less than the South Carolina average ($72,080) and 14% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $64,320 | $61,300 | $36,120 | $82,100 | 30 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $64,320, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $51,912 a year, or $4,326 a month and $1,997 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 Columbia a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $64,320 buys what about $68,672 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($84,810).
- 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 Columbia: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Columbia?
$30.92 an hour on average, and $29.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Columbia?
About $51,912 a year ($4,326 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,320.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.1%.
- 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 0.33, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.33).
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