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Mechanical Drafting Technicians 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.

Mechanical Drafting Technicians 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.

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.

Mechanical Drafting Technicians Jobs and Outlook

According to research conducted in 2006, Intabout 78,000 jobs in the US and the figures are expected to increase by 6% in the next ten years. Employment is the highest in the following industries:

• Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
• Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing
• Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing
• Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing
• Ship and Boat Building

The mean hourly wage in the US is about $22.45, while the mean annual wages are around $46,690.

Job Numbers and Growth

Mechanical drafting technicians in the US number about 78,000. Workers generally expect a low unemployment rate. There were about 4% of employees without jobs in 2008.

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).

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. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work 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.

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

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming