Chief Drafters   |   Median Salary: $45,300   |  

Many chief drafters across the U.S. share a few important professional characteristics. For example, NA can be essential for success in the industry, especially when blended with career training. Around 18,290 individuals were employed as chief drafters nationwide in 2009. With that much workplace competition, it's critical to develop these attributes and receive proper training, particularly if you're preparing to move up in the field.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual pay for chief drafters in the U.S. was $45,300 in 2009, which works out to a median hourly income of $21.80. Of course, pay can vary with training and by locale. Below, you'll find more data about chief drafters, including incomes and job density for metro areas all over the U.S..

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Below, you'll see links to more information on the top cities for this occupation (based on the number of individuals employed as chief drafters). Note: "Job density" refers to the proportion of chief drafters in each city as compared to the national average.

Browse the median incomes for chief drafters across the country. Can't find the city you're looking for? Check out CareerXE™ at WorldWideLearn.com.

Alabama
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Birmingham 30 $40,800 $19.60 $46,700 $22.50 -55%
Huntsville 60 $39,200 $18.80 $66,900 $32.20 107.9%
Mobile NA $37,600 $18.10 $49,200 $23.60 NA
Alaska
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Anchorage 40 $59,800 $28.80 $68,400 $32.90 73.6%
Arizona
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Phoenix 80 $48,800 $23.50 $55,100 $26.50 -69.3%
California
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bakersfield 30 $31,900 $15.30 $70,300 $33.80 -15%
Los Angeles (Area) 1,000 $54,400 $26.20 $68,900 $33.20 33.6%
Oakland 160 $66,000 $31.70 $78,900 $37.90 17.1%
Oxnard 30 $48,900 $23.50 $54,200 $26.10 -19.3%
Riverside 130 $50,500 $24.30 $64,700 $31.10 -20%
Sacramento 120 $54,800 $26.30 $62,200 $29.90 -0.7%
San Diego 140 $51,700 $24.90 $66,500 $32.00 -21.4%
San Francisco (Area) 290 $70,400 $33.80 $84,400 $40.60 4.3%
San Francisco (City) 130 $74,800 $36.00 $90,000 $43.30 -8.6%
San Jose 290 $48,700 $23.40 $61,600 $29.60 134.3%
Colorado
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Colorado Springs 60 $39,100 $18.80 $44,900 $21.60 85%
Denver 210 $50,800 $24.40 $70,700 $34.00 21.4%
Connecticut
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bridgeport 40 $42,400 $20.40 $55,500 $26.70 -37.9%
District of Columbia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Washington (Area) NA $53,200 $25.60 $62,500 $30.10 NA
Florida
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bradenton NA $33,900 $16.30 $44,400 $21.30 NA
Cape Coral 110 $34,800 $16.70 $42,300 $20.30 281.4%
Fort Walton Beach NA $43,700 $21.00 $50,800 $24.40 NA
Jacksonville NA $49,500 $23.80 $57,500 $27.70 NA
Miami (Area) 420 $46,200 $22.20 $55,500 $26.70 31.4%
Orlando 150 $47,100 $22.70 $67,600 $32.50 10%
Palm Bay 60 $55,400 $26.60 $66,100 $31.80 121.4%
Pensacola NA $29,500 $14.20 $33,400 $16.10 NA
Tallahassee NA $55,300 $26.60 $66,000 $31.70 NA
Tampa 190 $42,700 $20.50 $50,500 $24.30 20%
Georgia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Atlanta 120 $48,900 $23.50 $54,600 $26.20 -63.6%
Hawaii
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Honolulu 60 $49,700 $23.90 $56,500 $27.20 -4.3%
Idaho
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boise City NA $25,200 $12.10 $28,300 $13.60 NA
Illinois
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Champaign 40 $38,400 $18.50 $43,300 $20.80 157.9%
Chicago (Area) 1,020 $45,400 $21.80 $53,700 $25.80 62.1%
Rockford 80 $44,000 $21.10 $51,300 $24.70 287.1%
Indiana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Indianapolis 90 $38,700 $18.60 $47,800 $23.00 -22.1%
Iowa
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Davenport 90 $37,000 $17.80 $42,900 $20.60 257.9%
Des Moines 50 $44,400 $21.40 $52,800 $25.40 11.4%
Sioux City NA $46,000 $22.10 $51,200 $24.60 NA
Kansas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Wichita NA $45,400 $21.80 $62,500 $30.00 NA
Kentucky
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Louisville 100 $43,700 $21.00 $60,700 $29.20 22.9%
Louisiana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baton Rouge 250 $44,400 $21.40 $52,000 $25.00 388.6%
Houma 90 $35,200 $16.90 $46,500 $22.40 615.7%
Lafayette 110 $37,900 $18.20 $45,500 $21.90 442.9%
Lake Charles 40 $41,400 $19.90 $52,200 $25.10 211.4%
Monroe NA $35,500 $17.10 $39,400 $18.90 NA
New Orleans 440 $51,000 $24.50 $72,300 $34.80 522.9%
Shreveport 100 $35,600 $17.10 $45,100 $21.70 316.4%
Maryland
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baltimore 50 $47,800 $23.00 $63,700 $30.60 -73.6%
Massachusetts
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boston (Area) NA $47,800 $23.00 $61,700 $29.70 NA
Michigan
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Detroit (Area) 150 $36,700 $17.60 $46,000 $22.10 -2.1%
Grand Rapids 80 $41,600 $20.00 $48,200 $23.20 60.7%
Minnesota
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Minneapolis 320 $47,300 $22.70 $57,300 $27.50 30.7%
Missouri
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Kansas City 230 $47,700 $22.90 $60,000 $28.90 65%
St. Louis 160 $53,500 $25.70 $64,300 $30.90 -12.9%
Nebraska
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Lincoln 80 $44,100 $21.20 $52,100 $25.00 245.7%
Omaha 200 $44,800 $21.50 $59,400 $28.60 223.6%
Nevada
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Las Vegas 70 $37,400 $18.00 $49,600 $23.80 -40.7%
New Hampshire
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Manchester NA $46,600 $22.40 $54,500 $26.20 NA
New York
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Albany 90 $37,900 $18.20 $47,700 $22.90 55.7%
Buffalo 100 $40,200 $19.30 $56,900 $27.40 37.1%
New York (Area) 920 $52,300 $25.20 $70,600 $34.00 -17.9%
Rochester 40 $41,800 $20.10 $52,700 $25.30 -37.1%
Syracuse 60 $35,700 $17.20 $43,800 $21.10 29.3%
North Carolina
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Durham NA $44,500 $21.40 $51,100 $24.60 NA
Greensboro NA $104,400 $50.20 $111,500 $53.60 NA
Raleigh 50 $54,500 $26.20 $80,800 $38.80 -32.9%
Ohio
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Akron 40 $39,400 $19.00 $49,100 $23.60 -22.1%
Cincinnati 170 $53,600 $25.80 $61,400 $29.50 25%
Cleveland 140 $40,500 $19.50 $50,900 $24.50 0.7%
Columbus 120 $46,000 $22.10 $58,300 $28.00 -3.6%
Dayton 40 $38,900 $18.70 $45,300 $21.80 -32.1%
Youngstown NA $42,600 $20.50 $52,300 $25.20 NA
Oklahoma
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Oklahoma City NA $45,000 $21.60 $52,200 $25.10 NA
Tulsa NA $39,900 $19.20 $44,500 $21.40 NA
Oregon
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Eugene NA $36,300 $17.50 $41,200 $19.80 NA
Portland 160 $41,900 $20.10 $50,500 $24.30 12.1%
Pennsylvania
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Philadelphia (Area) 80 $59,300 $28.50 $64,500 $31.00 -70.7%
Pittsburgh 50 $54,300 $26.10 $59,600 $28.70 -67.9%
Rhode Island
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Providence 50 $45,700 $22.00 $61,100 $29.40 -33.6%
Tennessee
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Chattanooga 50 $37,900 $18.20 $46,100 $22.20 72.9%
Johnson City 40 $41,100 $19.80 $50,300 $24.20 234.3%
Knoxville 120 $32,300 $15.50 $45,100 $21.70 155.7%
Memphis 200 $49,500 $23.80 $57,900 $27.90 140%
Nashville 100 $44,500 $21.40 $51,500 $24.70 0%
Texas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Austin 50 $50,100 $24.10 $58,100 $27.90 -57.1%
Dallas (Area) 210 $41,600 $20.00 $53,200 $25.60 -45%
Houston 490 $54,000 $26.00 $70,900 $34.10 36.4%
San Antonio 80 $40,100 $19.30 $45,300 $21.80 -29.3%
Utah
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Ogden 40 $28,000 $13.50 $57,200 $27.50 47.9%
Provo NA $23,100 $11.10 $26,400 $12.70 NA
Salt Lake City 40 $37,200 $17.90 $44,400 $21.30 -50%
Virginia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Virginia Beach 70 $42,900 $20.60 $53,600 $25.80 -31.4%
Washington
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Seattle (Area) 790 $51,000 $24.50 $71,700 $34.50 184.3%
Spokane 40 $44,300 $21.30 $53,000 $25.50 32.9%
Wisconsin
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Green Bay 80 $37,300 $17.90 $43,100 $20.70 263.6%
Madison 110 NA NA NA NA 132.9%
Milwaukee 150 $38,900 $18.70 $46,600 $22.40 35%
Wausau 40 $41,800 $20.10 $64,200 $30.90 325%

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