Drafting Services — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the drafting services industry earns $71,487 per year ($34.37/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$71,487
Avg Annual Pay
9,608
Total Employees
3,537
Total Establishments
3
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Drafting Workers Earn?

At $71,487/year (equivalent to $34.37/hour for a full-time worker), drafting services wages are near the national average of ~$65,000.

The typical drafting services business employs 3 people. Most operations are small — often owner-operated with a handful of staff. Labor costs are manageable relative to revenue.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

55.2%

For the average drafting services business generating $388K/year with 3 employees at $71,487 each, total payroll represents roughly 55.2% of revenue. This is a labor-intensive industry — payroll is the dominant expense.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a drafting servicesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $92,933/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 3 employees = ~$214,461/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $34.37/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $388K/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Drafting Services revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do drafting services employees make?
The average drafting services employee earns $71,487 per year, which is equivalent to $34.37/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the drafting services industry?
The drafting services industry employs 9,608 workers across 3,537 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 3 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).