Mechanical Drafters pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,730 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in Chattanooga earn between $51,930 and $78,730.
- $45K10th
- $52K25th
- $65KMedian
- $79K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,470 | $5,789 | $33.40 |
| Median | $64,510 | $5,376 | $31.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,930 | $4,328 | $24.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,730 | $6,561 | $37.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($68,100) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $69,470 | $64,510 | $44,930 | $99,730 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $68,100 | $63,390 | $47,440 | $96,210 | 740 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $69,470, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $57,702 a year, or $4,809 a month and $2,219 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $57,702 | $4,809 |
| Working in GA | $54,984 | $4,582 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $69,470 buys what about $75,953 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 2nd of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Knoxville pays the most ($69,730).
- Knoxville$69,730
- Chattanooga$69,470
- Nashville$68,020
- Memphis$65,930
- Clarksville$64,840
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in Chattanooga?
$33.40 an hour on average, and $31.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $57,702 a year ($4,809 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,470. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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