Current Hourly Rate of Freelance CAD Drafters?

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1

I am a Mecahnical Engineer and SolidWorks Designer with my own freelancing business. I do 3D Modeling, CAD Work and Product Design.

Recently I got an offer to do more of a CAD Drafter role.

It would solely be doing things like ECO’s, BOM Changes in the MRP system, and updating all the drawings accordingly.
No actual design work.

It’s a contract role with no benefits.
Meaning no health insurance, paid time off, 401k, etc.

What would be a typical hourly rate for something like that here in the US?

2

I’m not from the U.S. but I’m pretty sure it will vary a lot depending on where in the US it would be.

3

I wouldn’t touch it for less than $50.00 per hour (unless I was hungry).

4

Thanks Glenn. Does anybody else have any data on this?

5

I do more freelance programming for PDM and Solidworks so my point of reference is a bit different, especially when I work on the order of weeks for custom projects. With that said, I agree with Glenn.

6

It depends on if you want to do the work or not. As a full time job, that’s probably a 25-30$/hr gig, but as a contractor, you have to charge more than that. $50/hr might be high if you’re not doing any design. I would get $75-100 for doing surfacing, plastics and mold work. So I’d guess in the $40/hr range would be in the range.

7

Depends if you are hiring a contractor direct vs going through a contract company. The latter is probably roughly $50-$70 an hour but the company gets some cut of that. Also depends on how hard the drafting/modeling work is. Some parts and small assemblies are fairly easy to work with. But working on large complex assemblies with complicated structures might warrant a little more.

8

If I were to go into business for myself, for design work, I would be charging $100/hour minimum.

For drafting work that someone else designed, I would almost prefer to do it by the job. But $50 to $75/hour would be reasonable.

9

Got it. So, best to hire Glenn Schroeder before lunch? Probably shouldn’t post that on the internet…just sayin’…

10

Great insights. Thanks Matt. Yeah, $25-$30 with benefits at full time job. Benefits seem to add around an extra 50% to the hourly rate (roughly) from what I’ve seen. So $37.50-$45 might be about right for a contract drafter not getting benefits, if that contractor gets to use the company’s computer and software. If contractor is providing computer and software, then the rate would go up a bit, probably to the $50 Glenn mentioned or a bit north of there.

11

Excellent point. Yes. In this case, it’s a direct role, not through an agency.

12

Thanks Dan. That’s what I usually do - roll the 2D CAD work into the whole design project. This job is strictly drafting though. That’s why I was caught off guard by the lower rate. But it seems the rate is in alignment with market rates (which I’m learning here in this thread).

13

Honestly I’ve seen the rates for drafting work stagnate in the US. 20 years ago I charged $30-$50 per hour depending on the work complexity. Today it’s much the same, I think because there is a lot of offshore competition from places that will do the work at $10-$15 per hour.

14

Good luck with that. I have a big breakfast taco first thing every morning so I don’t need much lunch.

15

How much should you charge to do someone’s homework?

https://www.cadforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=2531

16

A = $100 per hour
B = $75 per hour
C = $50 per hour
D = $25 per hour

17

F = free

18

I’ve done some freelance work in the past, and I would typically add 50% above what I would have expected to be paid if you were to do the work as a full-time employee with benefits. I guess you’re in the right ballpark with your assessment.

19

Since doing the drafting side is kind of boring and tedious I would jack the price up some and feel better if I got it, no loss if I didn’t.

20

Compared to my current line of work which is more data management related, solving modeling issues, and meetings all day, any drafting work I get is a nice break and cathartic even. I just put on some heavy metal and blast through a bunch of models and drawings for a few hours without having to think so much.