Drafting Technician Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
To be a proficient drafting technician, post-secondary school training in drafting through a community college, university or technical institute is vital. These courses will take 2 to 4 years to complete. High school courses in mathematics, computer technology, design, science, computer graphics and drafting are an added advantage. With an associate’s degree, one can obtain a job as a drafter or drafting technician. A drafter can become a senior drafter, supervisor or designer with sufficient experience.
Training and Education
Employees often obtain a postsecondary vocational award before starting. The percentage of drafting technicians with college degrees is 25%. Workers with some college (less than a bachelor's degree) represent about 62% of the total. Some employees, about 13%, had a high-school education.
Job Overview
Drafting technicians are involved in the preparation of technical drawings and plans. These drawings are used for the construction of office buildings, houses, gas pipelines and even in the manufacturing of toys, toasters and industrial machinery. Earlier, drafters or drafting technicians sat at drawing boards and drew with the help of pencils, protractors, triangles, pens and other drafting devices. But today, drafting technicians make use of Computer Aided Design and Drafting systems. Therefore, drafting technicians are also called CADD operators.
Job Requirements
The American Design Drafting Association offers certification program to those interested. To obtain the certificate, the drafting technician has to qualify for the Draft Certification Test, which is administered from time to time at an ADDA-authorized site. The test is comprised of questions related to basic drafting concepts like working drawings, geometric construction and architectural terms and standards.
Technical institutes also provide certificates or diplomas to drafting technicians. Technical training that is provided by the Armed Forces is applicable in the civilian drafting jobs also, with some need for additional training.
Drafting technicians must possess the visual aptitude and mechanical ability to go about their task of technical planning and drawing. They must have the capacity to draw well and finish their work in a neat and detailed manner. Certain fields also require artistic ability. Drafting technicians must also have good interpersonal skills to be able to work closely with customers, professionals, architects, surveyors and engineers.
Nature of Work
The drawings of the drafting technicians reveal how a product or structure has to be built. The drawings have technical detailing, accurate specifications regarding materials, dimensions and procedures. Drafters today use tables, technical handbooks, computers and calculators. Standardized building techniques are used for drawing the details of a structure.
Drafting technicians normally have to work from the comfort of their own office. They sit at drawing boards when handling manual drawings and at computer terminals for the rest of the drawings. Usually, drafters work 40 hours in a week. Very few drafters work part time.
Area Job Conditions
Popular locations for drafting technicians include Lafayette (Louisiana), New Orleans (Louisiana), and Fort Walton Beach (Florida). Fewer are found in Richmond (Virginia), Phoenix (Arizona), and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania).
Workers looking for high salaries should look at Oakland (California), Anchorage (Alaska), and Haverhill (Massachusetts), and should avoid Baltimore (Maryland), Shreveport (Louisiana), and Knoxville (Tennessee).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Part-time drafting technicians are 6% of all surveyed. Some workers, about 5%, work for themselves.
Career Videos
Drafting Technicians by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $43,000 | 40 | -9% |
| Huntsville | $49,000 | 40 | +121% |
| Mobile | $40,000 | 30 | +97% |
| Montgomery | $46,000 | 40 | +184% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $46,000 | 40 | -75% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $49,000 | 530 | +45% |
| Oakland | $60,000 | 130 | +45% |
| Riverside | $49,000 | 140 | +29% |
| Sacramento | $51,000 | 100 | +28% |
| San Diego | $49,000 | 100 | -15% |
| San Francisco | $80,000 | 90 | +1% |
| San Jose | $51,000 | 210 | +160% |
| Santa Ana | $52,000 | 180 | +37% |
| Vallejo | $51,000 | 40 | +294% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $55,000 | 220 | +95% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $47,000 | 30 | -21% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $61,000 | 60 | -73% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $50,000 | 110 | +76% |
| Miami | $51,000 | 110 | +24% |
| Pensacola | $39,000 | 40 | +214% |
| Sarasota | $36,000 | 90 | +316% |
| Tampa | $44,000 | 150 | +45% |
| West Palm Beach | $46,000 | 90 | +94% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $46,000 | 90 | -57% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $47,000 | 60 | +53% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $47,000 | 700 | +106% |
| Rockford | $42,000 | 50 | +316% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart | $37,000 | 30 | +230% |
| Indianapolis | $41,000 | 90 | +12% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | $38,000 | 50 | +209% |
| Des Moines | $43,000 | 60 | +105% |
| Sioux City | $44,000 | 50 | +744% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $46,000 | 100 | +84% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $48,000 | 170 | +413% |
| Houma | $44,000 | 40 | +406% |
| Lafayette | $36,000 | 110 | +799% |
| Lake Charles | $45,000 | 30 | +310% |
| Monroe | $33,000 | 40 | +539% |
| New Orleans | $50,000 | 240 | +406% |
| Shreveport | $41,000 | 100 | +542% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $46,000 | 50 | -58% |
| Bethesda | $50,000 | 40 | -23% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haverhill | $57,000 | 60 | +787% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | $42,000 | 60 | +79% |
| Warren | $44,000 | 50 | -49% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $47,000 | 320 | +99% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Louis | $52,000 | 130 | +8% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $42,000 | 70 | +407% |
| Omaha | $48,000 | 170 | +304% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $46,000 | 60 | -22% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $46,000 | 80 | +820% |
| Nashua | $50,000 | 60 | +412% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | $53,000 | 140 | +51% |
| Newark | $58,000 | 80 | -11% |
| Trenton | $49,000 | 40 | +101% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $47,000 | 70 | +74% |
| Buffalo | $47,000 | 80 | +61% |
| Nassau | $59,000 | 130 | +14% |
| New York | $55,000 | 590 | +25% |
| Rochester | $50,000 | 40 | -12% |
| Syracuse | $43,000 | 70 | +152% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $54,000 | 60 | +30% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $46,000 | 50 | +75% |
| Cincinnati | $46,000 | 90 | -2% |
| Cleveland | $45,000 | 140 | +52% |
| Columbus | $46,000 | 180 | +117% |
| Dayton | $42,000 | 40 | +17% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $46,000 | 90 | +74% |
| Tulsa | $48,000 | 30 | -22% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $40,000 | 30 | +149% |
| Portland | $54,000 | 200 | +117% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $58,000 | 70 | -59% |
| Pittsburgh | 50 | -52% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $44,000 | 50 | 0% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $41,000 | 50 | +150% |
| Kingsport | $42,000 | 40 | +288% |
| Knoxville | $49,000 | 50 | +69% |
| Memphis | $55,000 | 130 | +135% |
| Nashville | $47,000 | 50 | -25% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $41,000 | 50 | -29% |
| Dallas | $47,000 | 190 | +0% |
| Fort Worth | $44,000 | 200 | +157% |
| Houston | $66,000 | 410 | +72% |
| Midland | $41,000 | 30 | +491% |
| San Antonio | $43,000 | 80 | +2% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $37,000 | 30 | +73% |
| Salt Lake City | $42,000 | 40 | -27% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | $45,000 | 40 | +377% |
| Seattle | $55,000 | 320 | +152% |
| Tacoma | $47,000 | 40 | +71% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | $38,000 | 50 | +243% |
| Milwaukee | $42,000 | 160 | +113% |