Mechanical Drafting Technician Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Applicants with degrees from technical institutes offering intensive technical training are preferred by employers. Many technical institutes provide 2-year associate degree courses, which are similar to programs offered by community colleges or state university systems. Technical training in the Armed Forces is also applied in civil drafting jobs. The American Design Drafting Association offers a certification program for drafting technicians. Visual and mechanical ability are crucial for drafting technicians. Certification demonstrates knowledge and understanding of nationally recognized practices.
Training and Education
Obtaining a postsecondary vocational award will help job seekers. Mechanical drafting technicians with four or more years of college are 25% of the total. An estimated 62% of workers attended college at some level but did not pursue a 4-year degree. High school was enough education for 13% of employees.
Job Overview
Mechanical drafting technicians prepare technical drawings and plans for manufacturing a varied range of products such as toys, industrial machinery, buildings, offices, houses and oil and gas pipelines. Technicians originally used pencils, scales, triangles and drafting devices to draw by hand. Today, most drafters use Computer Aided Design and Drafting systems for preparing drawings. Drafters can create and store drawings using CADD systems. Although CADD is used extensively, drafters still need to know the traditional drafting techniques, since manual drafting and sketching is used for certain applications. The drawings prepared by drafters give visual guidelines and help construct products or structures.
Job Requirements
Drafting technicians should draw well, perform detailed work accurately and neatly and have knowledge of manufacturing and construction methods. Along with these, prospective drafters should possess good interpersonal skills as they are required to work with engineers, architects, surveyors and with customers. Knowledge of drafting standards, science, mathematics, engineering technology and a strong background in CADD techniques are always helpful.
Nature of Work
There are many types of drafting specialists like Aeronautical drafters, Architectural drafters, Civil drafters, Electrical drafters, Electronics drafters and Mechanical drafters. Work patterns vary according to specifications.
Mechanical drafting technicians work in comfortable offices and may chose different types of sitting areas according to the work. They may sit at drawing boards or drafting tables while working manually, and work at computer terminals when required. Drafting technicians are prone to eyestrain, hand and wrist problems and back discomfort since they spend long hours in front of computers. Most of them work a standard 40-hour week, whereas some work part-time as well.
Area Job Conditions
Where are jobs most numerous? Columbus (Indiana), Racine (Wisconsin), and Sheboygan (Wisconsin). Least common? West Palm Beach (Florida), Bakersfield (California), and Miami (Florida).
Salaries vary across the country, from highest in Provo (Utah), Winston-Salem (North Carolina), and San Jose (California) to lowest in Flint (Michigan), Lubbock (Texas), and Santa Barbara (California).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Whether by choice or necessity, 6% of mechanical drafting technicians work part-time. About 6% of workers do not work for a company or organization.
Career Videos
Mechanical 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 | $54,000 | 140 | -36% |
| Florence | $39,000 | 30 | +48% |
| Huntsville | $56,000 | 140 | +57% |
| Mobile | $62,000 | 140 | +86% |
| Montgomery | $45,000 | 110 | +59% |
| Tuscaloosa | $37,000 | 40 | +8% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $82,000 | 110 | +54% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $51,000 | 1,110 | +42% |
| Tucson | $56,000 | 170 | +14% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $49,000 | 60 | -31% |
| Fort Smith | $45,000 | 80 | +56% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $50,000 | 40 | -65% |
| Fresno | $40,000 | 120 | -14% |
| Los Angeles | $56,000 | 1,170 | -35% |
| Modesto | $52,000 | 50 | -24% |
| Oakland | $70,000 | 190 | -57% |
| Oxnard | $59,000 | 150 | +16% |
| Riverside | $52,000 | 270 | -50% |
| Sacramento | $51,000 | 230 | -40% |
| San Diego | $52,000 | 690 | +18% |
| San Francisco | $57,000 | 80 | -82% |
| San Jose | $69,000 | 420 | +5% |
| Santa Ana | $54,000 | 530 | -18% |
| Santa Rosa | $68,000 | 30 | -60% |
| Stockton | $56,000 | 40 | -56% |
| Vallejo | $70,000 | 40 | -20% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $55,000 | 50 | -23% |
| Colorado Springs | $49,000 | 150 | +37% |
| Denver | $58,000 | 340 | -39% |
| Fort Collins | $57,000 | 70 | +33% |
| Greeley | $52,000 | 30 | +3% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $54,000 | 240 | +28% |
| Danbury | $57,000 | 50 | +84% |
| Hartford | $54,000 | 440 | +73% |
| New Haven | $44,000 | 130 | +10% |
| Waterbury | $51,000 | 30 | +11% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $63,000 | 200 | +41% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $61,000 | 400 | -63% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $44,000 | 30 | -64% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $47,000 | 140 | -55% |
| Jacksonville | $48,000 | 130 | -51% |
| Miami | $55,000 | 130 | -70% |
| Orlando | $49,000 | 190 | -58% |
| Palm Bay | $55,000 | 160 | +89% |
| Pensacola | $32,000 | 30 | -52% |
| Sarasota | $51,000 | 70 | -34% |
| Tampa | $47,000 | 220 | -57% |
| West Palm Beach | $59,000 | 120 | -48% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $56,000 | 40 | +64% |
| Atlanta | $51,000 | 710 | -31% |
| Augusta | $38,000 | 80 | -9% |
| Savannah | $54,000 | 30 | -52% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $52,000 | 100 | -48% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $55,000 | 230 | +103% |
| Coeur Dalene | $38,000 | 30 | +53% |
| Idaho Falls | $48,000 | 40 | +122% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $52,000 | 1,190 | -29% |
| Peoria | $47,000 | 160 | +120% |
| Rockford | $47,000 | 150 | +153% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart | $41,000 | 140 | +212% |
| Evansville | $47,000 | 90 | +23% |
| Fort Wayne | $42,000 | 130 | +48% |
| Gary | $53,000 | 70 | -40% |
| Indianapolis | $52,000 | 400 | +1% |
| South Bend | $47,000 | 90 | +66% |
| Terre Haute | $44,000 | 40 | +47% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $43,000 | 60 | +2% |
| Davenport | $46,000 | 120 | +50% |
| Des Moines | $44,000 | 130 | -10% |
| Dubuque | $39,000 | 30 | +44% |
| Sioux City | $44,000 | 40 | +37% |
| Waterloo | $45,000 | 80 | +129% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $45,000 | 40 | -13% |
| Wichita | $51,000 | 360 | +187% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $43,000 | 200 | +92% |
| Louisville | $45,000 | 240 | -11% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $60,000 | 210 | +28% |
| Houma | $45,000 | 80 | +105% |
| Lafayette | $41,000 | 140 | +132% |
| Monroe | $49,000 | 40 | +30% |
| New Orleans | $53,000 | 170 | -27% |
| Shreveport | $40,000 | 90 | +17% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $50,000 | 110 | +28% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $52,000 | 840 | +44% |
| Bethesda | $55,000 | 110 | -57% |
| Salisbury | $43,000 | 40 | +91% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $53,000 | 40 | -2% |
| Boston | $65,000 | 610 | -21% |
| Brockton | $55,000 | 40 | +8% |
| Framingham | $61,000 | 40 | -42% |
| Haverhill | $51,000 | 60 | +80% |
| Lawrence | $66,000 | 40 | +70% |
| Leominster | $50,000 | 30 | +56% |
| Peabody | $64,000 | 50 | +19% |
| Springfield | $49,000 | 200 | +54% |
| Worcester | $60,000 | 180 | +65% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $50,000 | 70 | -2% |
| Detroit | $58,000 | 340 | +15% |
| Flint | $37,000 | 100 | +83% |
| Grand Rapids | $51,000 | 540 | +226% |
| Holland | $45,000 | 140 | +253% |
| Jackson | $38,000 | 50 | +165% |
| Kalamazoo | $48,000 | 110 | +92% |
| Lansing | $51,000 | 150 | +76% |
| Muskegon | $47,000 | 30 | +37% |
| Niles | $47,000 | 150 | +557% |
| Saginaw | $45,000 | 40 | +20% |
| Warren | $53,000 | 1,360 | +183% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $47,000 | 40 | -27% |
| Mankato | $41,000 | 70 | +216% |
| Minneapolis | $54,000 | 1,710 | +115% |
| Rochester | $44,000 | 40 | -6% |
| St Cloud | $42,000 | 70 | +78% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $41,000 | 40 | -10% |
| Jackson | $43,000 | 100 | -9% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $49,000 | 450 | 0% |
| Springfield | $40,000 | 70 | -15% |
| St Joseph | $46,000 | 50 | +153% |
| St Louis | $52,000 | 610 | +2% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $37,000 | 40 | +17% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $40,000 | 110 | +61% |
| Omaha | $45,000 | 130 | -37% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $51,000 | 100 | -73% |
| Reno | $67,000 | 60 | -27% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua | $55,000 | 40 | -31% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $56,000 | 390 | +68% |
| Edison | $55,000 | 360 | -21% |
| Newark | $54,000 | 410 | -8% |
| Trenton | $63,000 | 70 | -29% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $54,000 | 180 | +6% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $51,000 | 220 | +11% |
| Binghamton | $41,000 | 30 | -36% |
| Buffalo | $48,000 | 360 | +47% |
| Elmira | $47,000 | 40 | +178% |
| Glens Falls | $51,000 | 40 | +96% |
| Nassau | $58,000 | 340 | -40% |
| New York | $55,000 | 1,980 | -15% |
| Poughkeepsie | $56,000 | 30 | -72% |
| Rochester | $45,000 | 200 | -11% |
| Syracuse | $49,000 | 180 | +32% |
| Utica | $41,000 | 50 | -5% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $55,000 | 50 | -34% |
| Charlotte | $48,000 | 360 | -5% |
| Durham | $52,000 | 90 | -25% |
| Greensboro | $48,000 | 80 | -49% |
| Hickory | $47,000 | 50 | -20% |
| Raleigh | $50,000 | 120 | -47% |
| Wilmington | $57,000 | 40 | -31% |
| Winston Salem | $50,000 | 50 | -45% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $38,000 | 110 | +115% |
| Grand Forks | $38,000 | 40 | +114% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $46,000 | 200 | +42% |
| Canton | $44,000 | 140 | +97% |
| Cincinnati | $50,000 | 550 | +22% |
| Cleveland | $50,000 | 760 | +67% |
| Columbus | $46,000 | 340 | -17% |
| Dayton | $51,000 | 330 | +96% |
| Springfield | $50,000 | 40 | +116% |
| Toledo | $50,000 | 190 | +48% |
| Youngstown | $45,000 | 110 | +12% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $46,000 | 380 | +49% |
| Tulsa | $50,000 | 470 | +148% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $40,000 | 70 | +18% |
| Portland | $52,000 | 570 | +25% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $51,000 | 240 | +58% |
| Erie | $40,000 | 130 | +141% |
| Harrisburg | $49,000 | 90 | -36% |
| Johnstown | $40,000 | 30 | +36% |
| Lancaster | $48,000 | 130 | +28% |
| Lebanon | $55,000 | 30 | +72% |
| Philadelphia | $57,000 | 1,040 | +22% |
| Pittsburgh | $50,000 | 1,070 | +110% |
| Reading | $46,000 | 170 | +139% |
| Scranton | $41,000 | 180 | +58% |
| State College | $40,000 | 50 | +101% |
| Williamsport | $39,000 | 40 | +99% |
| York | $43,000 | 390 | +417% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | $52,000 | 30 | +35% |
| Columbia | $40,000 | 190 | +24% |
| Florence | $46,000 | 40 | +24% |
| Greenville | $65,000 | 270 | +106% |
| Spartanburg | $49,000 | 50 | +4% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $36,000 | 50 | -15% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $50,000 | 170 | +72% |
| Knoxville | $54,000 | 170 | +16% |
| Memphis | $48,000 | 120 | -56% |
| Nashville | $46,000 | 280 | -15% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $49,000 | 30 | +19% |
| Austin | $53,000 | 330 | -6% |
| Beaumont | $51,000 | 60 | -13% |
| Corpus Christi | $52,000 | 50 | -35% |
| Dallas | $55,000 | 990 | +6% |
| El Paso | $51,000 | 40 | -66% |
| Fort Worth | $48,000 | 670 | +74% |
| Houston | $56,000 | 2,310 | +97% |
| Longview | $42,000 | 90 | +129% |
| Odessa | $50,000 | 30 | +35% |
| San Antonio | $55,000 | 180 | -54% |
| Tyler | $93,000 | 50 | +35% |
| Waco | $45,000 | 40 | -3% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $48,000 | 60 | -30% |
| Provo | $49,000 | 60 | -17% |
| Salt Lake City | $45,000 | 360 | +34% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $66,000 | 120 | +158% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg | $44,000 | 30 | +24% |
| Lynchburg | $42,000 | 60 | +47% |
| Richmond | $55,000 | 140 | -49% |
| Roanoke | $42,000 | 60 | -9% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $45,000 | 40 | +35% |
| Kennewick | $56,000 | 30 | -27% |
| Seattle | 1,830 | +193% | |
| Spokane | $43,000 | 90 | +2% |
| Tacoma | $55,000 | 100 | -13% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $43,000 | 90 | +46% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $45,000 | 120 | +150% |
| Eau Claire | $42,000 | 80 | +168% |
| Green Bay | $46,000 | 170 | +137% |
| La Crosse | $44,000 | 70 | +143% |
| Madison | $52,000 | 320 | +116% |
| Milwaukee | $51,000 | 840 | +127% |
| Oshkosh | $50,000 | 180 | +401% |
| Racine | $54,000 | 130 | +333% |
| Sheboygan | $51,000 | 110 | +401% |
| Wausau | $42,000 | 120 | +353% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne | $41,000 | 30 | +85% |