About the Career

Turning ideas into designs, drafters create electrical, mechanical, product or architectural plans and find opportunities in many industries. A well-paying career, drafting requires only an associate degree to reach a high level of success.

The median salary for drafters is $53,480 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Drafting requires only an associate degree to reach a high level of success.

Drafting Career Paths

Possible career paths in the field of drafting include:

  • Architectural Drafter
  • Civil Drafter
  • Electrical Drafter
  • Piping Drafter
  • Mechanical Drafter
  • Structural Drafter
  • Manufacturing Drafter
  • Construction Drafter

Drafting Job Titles

Some specific job titles in the field of drafting include:

  • Drafter
  • Senior Drafter
  • Project Coordinator
  • CAD Technician
  • CAD Manager

Median Annual Wages

In May 2016, the median annual wages for drafters in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services $57,080
Construction $53,730
Manufacturing $53,010
Wholesale trade $52,890
Architectural, engineering, and related services $52,850

Quick Facts Drafters

2016 Median Pay $53,480 per year
$25.71 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Associate's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2016 207,700
Job Outlook, 2016-26 7% (As fast as average)
Employment Change, 2016-26 14,500

For additional information search the Occupational Outlook Handbook at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/drafters.htm