Draftsperson salary in Australia
When you search for a draftsperson salary, you want to see the same pay expressed as a yearly figure, a weekly amount, and an hourly rate. This page looks at what the official sources say about earnings for this occupation and how they compare to the national full-time average.
The national benchmark
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes the most widely used measure of earnings: Average Weekly Earnings. For May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This is the figure this site calls the line. It is an average across all industries and occupations, not a median or a minimum.
For context, the ABS also reports that the median full-time employee earns about $90,532 per year, and the median across all employees (including part-time) is about $74,100 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week.
What the sources say about draftspersons
The ABS does not publish a separate average or median salary for the occupation of draftsperson. The most detailed occupation-level data comes from the Employee Earnings and Hours survey, but it groups workers into broad categories such as Technicians and Trades Workers or Professionals. A draftsperson could fall into either group depending on qualifications and duties. Without a specific published figure, we cannot give an exact draftsperson salary.
Fair Work provides guidance on which award covers draughtspersons (note the spelling difference – the award uses the older term). According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, coverage depends on the employer’s industry and the employee’s role:
- Building and Construction Award – applies if the employer is in the general building and construction industry and the work is done on a construction site.
- Manufacturing Award – covers draughtspersons on an occupational basis if no other industry award applies. This is the default for many off-site roles.
- Professional Award – applies if the role requires a degree in engineering or qualifications equal to a graduate member of Engineers Australia.
Each award has multiple classification levels with different minimum pay rates. Those rates are updated each financial year (the latest increase was 4.75% from 1 July 2026). However, the exact dollar figures for each classification are not included in the search results provided here. You would need to check the specific award pay guide on the Fair Work website for current rates.
Reading the same pay as a year, a week, and an hour
Even without a precise draftsperson salary, you can use the national average as a reference point. If you know your own annual salary, you can see how it stacks up. This site’s tool accepts a yearly salary before tax and shows the equivalent weekly amount (based on a 38-hour week) and hourly rate, plus the distance from the full-time average.
For example, if a draftsperson under the Manufacturing Award is classified at a level that pays, say, $1,500 per week, that would be about $78,000 per year – well below the national average of $108,352. A senior professional draftsperson covered by the Professional Award might earn $2,500 per week, or $130,000 per year, above the average.
State and territory differences
The national average masks variation across Australia. The ABS publishes full-time average earnings for each state and territory. For May 2026, the highest average is in the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090 per year) and the lowest in Tasmania ($96,008). If you work as a draftsperson in Western Australia, the state average is $115,825, while in South Australia it is $102,450. These differences matter when comparing your salary to the local market.
Place a salary on the line to see where your pay sits against the national full-time average. You can also explore job medians for broad occupation groups, though draftsperson is not separately listed.
Key takeaways
- No official source publishes a specific draftsperson salary. The ABS does not break down earnings for this occupation.
- Award coverage determines minimum pay. The Manufacturing Award is the most common default for off-site draughtspersons.
- The national full-time average of $108,352 per year is a useful benchmark. Your actual pay may be higher or lower depending on classification, experience, and location.
- Use this site’s tool to convert any annual salary to weekly and hourly figures and see the gap from the average.
For more on how the figures are calculated, see How the figures are set.