Electronics and Electrical Drafter Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Courses on electronics and electrical drafting are available at universities and colleges, technical institutes and community colleges. Courses may last two or four years. Employers prefer candidates who have taken a four year program from a technical institute, as they offer in-depth technical training. Community college courses put more stress on the study of liberal arts than technical studies. Students can acquire knowledge of mathematics, engineering and architecture at technical institutes, which help to pave the way to become a good drafter.
Training and Education
Employees normally have a postsecondary vocational award before landing a job. Degrees are held by 25% of current electronics and electrical drafters. Post-secondary schooling was enough for 62% of workers. Education topped out at high school for 13% of employees.
Job Overview
Electronics and electrical drafters make drawings and plans related to manufacturing, installing and wiring buildings and industrial places.
Job Requirements
Electronics and electrical drafters can earn certifications and degrees in drafting. A certification can be obtained from the American Design Drafting Association. Those who wish to become certified have to pass the Drafter Certification Test. Aspirants are tested on drafting concepts, working designs and other technical aspects of electronics and electrical drafting.
Visual aptitude and a keen understanding of the operations of mechanical instruments are important for electronics and electrical drafters. They also need to have a good knowledge of electronics and electrical circuitry. An aesthetic sense is an added advantage as is also the ability to communicate well and interact with different people, as they have to interact with architects, engineers, customers and other professionals.
Nature of Work
Electronic drafters work on designing and drawing schematics and assembling circuit boards and drawings for the layout of electronic devices and components. Electrical drafters prepare layout and wiring drawings for electrical equipment, power plants and buildings.
Electronics and electrical drafters work in a comfortable office environment. While preparing manual drawings, they work on drafting tables and drawing boards. They also work on computers for designing purposes. As they work for long hours doing detailed work on the computer and drawing boards, they are often susceptible to back problems, eye strain and hand and wrist problems. Electronics and electrical drafters work for about forty hours a week and a few even work on a part-time basis.
Area Job Conditions
You'll see a lot of electronics and electrical drafters in Jackson (Michigan), Huntsville (Alabama), and Norwich (Connecticut), and comparatively fewer in Dayton (Ohio), Oxnard (California), and West Palm Beach (Florida).
Wages for Workers are highest in Lowell (Massachusetts), Nassau (New York), and Poughkeepsie (New York), and lowest in Boise (Idaho), Columbus (Ohio), and Jacksonville (Florida).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Part-time work suffices for 6% of electronics and electrical drafters. Workers working on their own make up 6% of the total.
Career Videos
Electronics and Electrical Drafters 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 | $51,000 | 190 | +101% |
| Huntsville | $53,000 | 190 | +389% |
| Mobile | $60,000 | 70 | +114% |
| Montgomery | $45,000 | 50 | +65% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $52,000 | 540 | +58% |
| Tucson | $48,000 | 140 | +115% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $45,000 | 30 | +34% |
| Little Rock | $43,000 | 50 | -24% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $49,000 | 50 | +2% |
| Los Angeles | $60,000 | 560 | -29% |
| Modesto | $63,000 | 40 | +40% |
| Oakland | $67,000 | 290 | +50% |
| Oxnard | $67,000 | 70 | +24% |
| Riverside | $51,000 | 100 | -57% |
| San Diego | $51,000 | 370 | +46% |
| San Francisco | $61,000 | 130 | -32% |
| San Jose | $69,000 | 500 | +188% |
| San Luis Obispo | $51,000 | 50 | +202% |
| Santa Ana | $55,000 | 270 | -4% |
| Santa Cruz | $53,000 | 50 | +224% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $67,000 | 50 | +77% |
| Colorado Springs | $59,000 | 60 | +26% |
| Denver | $58,000 | 460 | +90% |
| Fort Collins | $51,000 | 50 | +118% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $62,000 | 110 | +35% |
| Hartford | $62,000 | 110 | -1% |
| New Haven | $57,000 | 100 | +94% |
| Norwich | $59,000 | 120 | +437% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $61,000 | 230 | +271% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,000 | 480 | +2% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $46,000 | 120 | -11% |
| Jacksonville | $55,000 | 100 | -14% |
| Miami | $59,000 | 90 | -53% |
| Orlando | $54,000 | 130 | -34% |
| Palm Bay | $45,000 | 70 | +90% |
| West Palm Beach | $52,000 | 40 | -60% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $55,000 | 430 | -4% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $48,000 | 150 | +78% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $60,000 | 160 | +224% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $69,000 | 690 | -6% |
| Springfield | $60,000 | 50 | +157% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary | $76,000 | 40 | -22% |
| Indianapolis | $56,000 | 120 | -31% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $47,000 | 160 | +193% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $54,000 | 60 | +32% |
| Louisville | $50,000 | 80 | -32% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $63,000 | 130 | +83% |
| New Orleans | $54,000 | 110 | +8% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $55,000 | 60 | +60% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $52,000 | 400 | +57% |
| Bethesda | $51,000 | 100 | -10% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $65,000 | 360 | +6% |
| Framingham | $67,000 | 50 | +65% |
| Lowell | $69,000 | 110 | +403% |
| Springfield | $54,000 | 70 | +24% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $53,000 | 130 | +1% |
| Grand Rapids | $53,000 | 40 | -45% |
| Warren | $57,000 | 400 | +91% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $54,000 | 360 | +4% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $52,000 | 100 | +109% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $51,000 | 330 | +68% |
| St Louis | $57,000 | 320 | +23% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $51,000 | 60 | +302% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $44,000 | 50 | -45% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $73,000 | 100 | -39% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $59,000 | 40 | +114% |
| Nashua | $56,000 | 70 | +178% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $63,000 | 150 | +48% |
| Edison | $59,000 | 120 | -40% |
| Newark | $58,000 | 150 | -23% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $53,000 | 100 | +35% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $55,000 | 140 | +62% |
| Binghamton | $56,000 | 40 | +96% |
| Buffalo | $59,000 | 120 | +13% |
| Nassau | $62,000 | 210 | -15% |
| New York | $64,000 | 840 | -17% |
| Poughkeepsie | $68,000 | 60 | +29% |
| Rochester | $56,000 | 130 | +33% |
| Syracuse | $67,000 | 140 | +135% |
| Utica | 50 | +119% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $52,000 | 130 | -22% |
| Durham | $60,000 | 40 | -24% |
| Greensboro | $52,000 | 70 | +3% |
| Raleigh | $54,000 | 190 | +91% |
| Winston Salem | $48,000 | 50 | +26% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $39,000 | 40 | +80% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | $42,000 | 50 | +61% |
| Cleveland | $51,000 | 160 | -19% |
| Columbus | $46,000 | 90 | -50% |
| Dayton | $44,000 | 70 | -4% |
| Youngstown | $49,000 | 50 | +17% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $45,000 | 80 | -28% |
| Tulsa | $53,000 | 130 | +57% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $52,000 | 350 | +77% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $48,000 | 60 | -9% |
| Harrisburg | $52,000 | 130 | +113% |
| Philadelphia | $58,000 | 440 | +19% |
| Pittsburgh | $48,000 | 460 | +107% |
| Reading | $52,000 | 40 | +29% |
| York | $48,000 | 70 | +113% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $55,000 | 150 | +40% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $52,000 | 160 | +193% |
| Columbia | $55,000 | 70 | +4% |
| Greenville | $54,000 | 130 | +128% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $63,000 | 80 | +86% |
| Knoxville | $49,000 | 50 | -21% |
| Memphis | $59,000 | 70 | -41% |
| Nashville | $50,000 | 150 | +5% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $75,000 | 620 | +307% |
| Beaumont | $47,000 | 50 | +67% |
| Dallas | $52,000 | 500 | +23% |
| El Paso | $35,000 | 70 | +35% |
| Fort Worth | $52,000 | 220 | +31% |
| Houston | $59,000 | 1,070 | +109% |
| San Antonio | $47,000 | 190 | +12% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $54,000 | 140 | +19% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $54,000 | 80 | -33% |
| Virginia Beach | $49,000 | 180 | +23% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $70,000 | 820 | +201% |
| Spokane | $53,000 | 90 | +134% |
| Tacoma | $41,000 | 50 | 0% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $55,000 | 30 | +44% |
| Madison | $47,000 | 40 | -38% |
| Milwaukee | $50,000 | 250 | +55% |
