Mechanical Drafters pay range in La Crosse
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,950 or more. The middle half of mechanical drafters in La Crosse earn between $59,240 and $75,940.
- $53K10th
- $59K25th
- $63KMedian
- $76K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,380 | $5,698 | $32.88 |
| Median | $62,550 | $5,212 | $30.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,240 | $4,937 | $28.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,940 | $6,328 | $36.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Drafters pay in La Crosse vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Mechanical drafters in La Crosse earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($67,960) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($75,060). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $71,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | $68,380 | $62,550 | $52,900 | $86,950 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $67,960 | $63,770 | $48,010 | $92,260 | 1,630 |
| 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 La Crosse
On the average salary of $68,380, a single filer in La Crosse takes home about $54,385 a year, or $4,532 a month and $2,092 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $54,385 | $4,532 |
| Working in MN | $53,809 | $4,484 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is La Crosse a good place for mechanical drafters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the La Crosse area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.8), so the average $68,380 buys what about $74,513 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in La Crosse ($48,260). A typical home costs $335,330, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Drafters salary in other Wisconsin cities
La Crosse ranks 8th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Fond du Lac pays the most ($79,230).
- Fond du Lac$79,230
- Sheboygan$77,630
- Appleton$71,690
- Milwaukee$70,880
- Racine$70,770
- Oshkosh$69,940
- Madison$69,220
- La Crosse$68,380
- Kenosha$65,840
- Janesville$65,760
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 La Crosse: questions
How much do mechanical drafters make an hour in La Crosse?
$32.88 an hour on average, and $30.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical drafters salary in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical drafters take-home pay in La Crosse?
About $54,385 a year ($4,532 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,380.
Do mechanical drafters earn more in La Crosse than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN (29100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 1.92, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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