Salary Range
$25,000 to $100,000
Drafters prepare working plans and detailed drawings of products or structures from the rough sketches, specifications, and calculations of engineers, architects, and designers. These drawings are used in engineering or manufacturing processes to reproduce exactly the product or structure desired, according to the specified dimensions. The drafter uses knowledge of various machines, engineering practices, mathematics, and building materials, along with other physical sciences and extensive computer skills, to complete the drawings. There are approximately 199,900 drafters working in the United States.
Minimum Education Level
Associate's DegreeCertification/License
RecommendedOutlook
Little Change or More Slowly than the AverageArtistic
Realistic
Technical
Drafter
Junior Drafter or Drafting Technician
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineers
- Advanced Manufacturing Technicians
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
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- Apparel Industry Workers
- Appliance Service Technicians
- Architects
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- Boilermakers and Mechanics
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- Building Automation Systems Engineers
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- Business Managers
- Carpenters
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- Chemists
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Civil Engineering Technicians
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- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Construction Inspectors
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- Engineers
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- Ergonomists
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
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- Futurists
- General Maintenance Mechanics
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- Geologists
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- Glass Manufacturing Workers
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- Green Builders
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- Greeting Card Designers and Writers
- Hardware Engineers
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- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Designers
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- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
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- Industrial Radiographers
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- Instrumentation Technicians
- Insulators/Insulation Workers
- Interior Designers and Decorators
- Internet of Things Developers
- Jewelers and Jewelry Repairers
- Job and Die Setters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Landscape Architects
- Laser Technicians
- Lathers
- Layout Workers
- Learning Innovations Designers
- Leather Tanning and Finishing Workers
- Logging Industry Workers
- Logistics Analysts
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- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Marble Setters, Tile Setters, and Terrazzo Workers
- Materials Engineers
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- Mechanical Engineers
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- Metallurgical Technicians
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Millwrights
- Molders
- Motion Graphics Artists
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Numerical Control Tool Programmers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Operating Engineers
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Optical Engineers
- Optics Technicians
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Painters and Paperhangers
- Paper Processing Workers
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Plasterers
- Plastics Engineers
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- Plastics Technicians
- Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Precision Machinists
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- Prepress Workers
- Product Designers
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Production Designers and Art Directors
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radio Frequency Engineers
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Real Estate Developers
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- Renewable Energy Site Assessors
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Integrators
- Robotics Technicians
- Roofers
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- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Silverware Artisans and Workers
- Smart Building Systems Designers
- Software Designers
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- Sporting Goods Production Workers
- Stationary Engineers
- Steel Industry Workers
- Supply Chain Managers
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
- Swimming Pool Designers
- Tattoo Artists
- Test Drivers
- Textile Manufacturing Workers
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toy Industry Workers
- Traffic Managers
- Urban and Regional Planners
- Visual Interaction Designers
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wood Science and Technology Workers