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Employment
Drafters held about 254,000 jobs in 2004. Architectural and civil drafters held 43 percent of all jobs for drafters, mechanical drafters held about 32 percent of all jobs, and about 15 percent of jobs were held by electrical and electronics drafters. About 44 percent of all jobs for drafters were in architectural, engineering, and related services firms that design construction projects or do other engineering work on a contract basis for other industries. Another 27 percent of jobs were in manufacturing industries such as machinery manufacturing, including metalworking and other general machinery; fabricated metal products manufacturing, including Architectural and structural metals; computer and electronic products manufacturing, including navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments; and transportation equipment manufacturing, including aerospace products and parts manufacturing, as well as ship and boat building. Most of the rest were employed in construction, government, wholesale trade, utilities, and employment services. Approximately 6 percent were self-employed in 2004.
Earnings
Drafters' earnings vary by specialty, location, and level of responsibility. Median annual earnings of Architectural and civil drafters were $39,190 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,460 and $47,800. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,670, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57,670. Median annual earnings for Architectural and civil drafters in architectural, engineering, and related services were $38,760. Median annual earnings of mechanical drafters were $43,000 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $34,090 and $54,240. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,490, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $67,650. Median annual earnings for mechanical drafters in architectural, engineering, and related services were $44,560. Median annual earnings of electrical and electronics drafters were $43,180 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,920 and $56,110. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,600, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $72,050. In architectural, engineering, and related services, median annual earnings for electrical and electronics drafters were $42,200.
Related Occupations
Other workers who prepare or analyze detailed drawings and make precise calculations and measurements include architects, except landscape and naval; landscape architects; commercial and industrial designers; engineers; engineering technicians; science technicians; and surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians.
Common Lay Titles
Architect
Architectural Designer
Architectural Drafter
Architectural Draftsman
Architectural Intern
Architectural Technician
Architectural Technologist
Architecture Drafter
CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman)
CAD Technician (Computer-Aided Design Technician)
CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Drafter)
CADD Operator (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Operator)
Computer Aided Drafter
Designer
Detailer
Drafter
Drafter, Assistant
Drafter, Commercial
Drafter, Heating and Ventilating
Drafter, Landscape
Drafter, Marine
Drafter, Oil and Gas
Drafter, Plumbing
Drafter, Structural
Drafting Technician
Draftsman
Intern Architect
Plumbing Designer
Project Architect
Project Manager
Steel Detailer
Truss Designer
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Schools Offering Degrees for
Architectural Drafters |
 | The Art Institute | Online | | | Westwood College | Online | | | Clark University | Campus | Woburn, MA 01801 | | CDIA - Center for Digital Media Arts | Campus | Waltham, MA 02453 | | New England Institute of Technology | Campus | Warwick, RI 02886 | | Advantage Career Institute | Campus | West Long Branch, NJ 07764 | | CDM Institute | Campus | Marlton, NJ 08053 | | Technical Career Institutes | Campus | New York, NY 10001 | | NYU School of Continuing Education | Campus | New York, NY 10003 | | College of Westchester | Campus | White Plains, NY 10606 | | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology | Campus | Flushing, NY 11369 | | Island Drafting and Technical Institute | Campus | Amityville, NY 11701 | | Pennsylvania Commercial College | Campus | Washington, PA 15301 | | Tri-State Business Institute | Campus | Erie, PA 16506 | | YTI Career Institute | Campus | Lancaster, PA 17402 | | Lincoln Technical Institute | Campus | Allentown, PA 18104 | | CDM Institute | Campus | Allentown, PA 18106 | | Allied Medical and Technical Institute | Campus | Scranton, PA 18509 | | Pennsylvania Institute of Technology | Campus | Media, PA 19063 | | Berks Technical Institute | Campus | Wyomissing, PA 19610 | | TESST College of Technology | Campus | Beltsville, MD 20705 | | University of Phoenix | Campus | Greenbelt, MD 20770 | | Computer Career Institute at Johns Hopkins | Campus | Columbia, MD 21046 | | Computer Career Institute at Johns Hopkins | Campus | Baltimore, MD 21224 | | TESST College of Technology - Towson | Campus | Towson, MD 21286 | | Hagerstown Business College | Campus | Hagerstown, MD 21742 | | Westwood College | Campus | Annadale, VA 22003 | | TESST College of Technology | Campus | Alexandria, VA 22312 | | Westwood College | Campus | Atlanta, GA 30309 | | American Intercontinental University | Campus | Atlanta, GA 30326 | | Westwood College | Campus | Atlanta, GA 30345 | | Florida Technical College of Jacksonville Inc | Campus | Jacksonville, FL 32211 | | Florida Technical College | Campus | Deland, FL 32720 | | International Academy of Design and Technology | Campus | Orlando, FL 32809 | | Florida Technical College | Campus | Orlando, FL 32826 | | Keiser University | Campus | Melbourne, FL 32901 | | Keiser University | Campus | Pembroke Pines, FL 33027 | | Keiser University | Campus | Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 | | American Intercontinental University | Campus | Weston, FL 33326 | | Southwest Florida College | Campus | Tampa, FL 33619 | | International Academy of Design and Technology | Campus | Tampa, FL 33634 | | Elmira Business Institute | Campus | Auburndale, FL 33823 | | Southwest Florida College | Campus | Fort Myers, FL 33907 | | Virginia College | Campus | Birmingham, AL 35209 | | Virginia College | Campus | Huntsville, AL 35805 | | Virginia College at Mobile | Campus | Mobile, AL 36608 | | Virginia College | Campus | Chattanooga, TN 37411 | | Spencerian College | Campus | Louisville, KY 40216 | | Louisville Technical Institute | Campus | Louisville, KY 40218 | | Spencerian College | Campus | Lexington, KY 40505 | | International Academy of Design and Technology | Campus | Troy, MI 48083 | | Vatterott College | Campus | Des Moines, IA 50321 | | Keller Graduate School of Management | Campus | Milwaukee, WI 53202 | | Madison Media Institute | Campus | Madison, WI 53718 | | Rasmussen College | Campus | Green Bay, WI 54303 | | Rasmussen College | Campus | Eagan, MN 55122 | | Rasmussen College | Campus | Minnetonka, MN 55305 | | Rasmussen College | Campus | Eden Prairie, MN 55344 | | Rasmussen College | Campus | Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 | | Duluth Business University | Campus | Dultuh, MN 55807 | | Rasmussen College | Campus | Mankato, MN 56001 | | Rasmussen College | Campus | Saint Cloud, MN 56303 | | International Academy of Design and Technology | Campus | Schaumburg, IL 60173 | | Westwood College | Campus | Calumet City, IL 60409 | | Westwood College | Campus | Woodridge, IL 60517 | | Westwood College | Campus | Chicago, IL 60602 | | International Academy of Design and Technology | Campus | Chicago, IL 60602 | | Westwood College | Campus | Chicago, IL 60634 | | Rasmussen College | Campus | Rockford, IL 61108 | | Vatterott College | Campus | Quincy, IL 62301 | | Vatterott College | Campus | Saint Ann, MO 63074 | | Vatterott College | Campus | Kansas City, MO 64129 | | Vatterott College | Campus | Joplin, MO 64801 | | Vatterott College | Campus | Springfield, MO 65807 | | Northeast Kansas Technical College | Campus | Atchison, KS 66002 | | Vatterott College | Campus | Wichita, KS 67226 | | Vatterott College | Campus | Omaha, NE 68137 | | Vatterott College | Campus | Tulsa, OK 74112 | | Westwood College | Campus | Dallas, TX 75243 | | Westwood College | Campus | Fort Worth, TX 76137 | | Westwood College | Campus | Houston, TX 77074 | | Westwood College | Campus | Denver, CO 80221 | | Westwood College | Campus | Denver, CO 80227 | | Colorado Technical University Online | Campus | Colorado Springs, CO 80907 | | Intellitec College | Campus | Colorado Springs, CO 80909 | | Intellitec College | Campus | Grand Junction, CO 81506 | | Eagle Gate College | Campus | Salt Lake City, UT 84111 | | Eagle Gate College | Campus | Murray, UT 84123 | | High-Tech Institute | Campus | Phoenix, AZ 85014 | | Collins College | Campus | Phoenix, AZ 85021 | | Westwood College | Campus | Los Angeles, CA 90010 | | Westwood College | Campus | Torrance, CA 90502 | | Mt Sierra College | Campus | Monrovia, CA 91016 | | Video Symphony | Campus | Burbank, CA 91502 | | Palladium Technical Academy | Campus | El Monte, CA 91731 | | Westwood College | Campus | Upland, CA 91786 | | University of Phoenix | Campus | San Marcos, CA 92069 | | New School of Architecture and Design | Campus | San Diego, CA 92101 | | Brownson Technical School | Campus | Anaheim, CA 92805 | | Westwood College | Campus | Anaheim, CA 92806 | | Ohlone College | Campus | Fremont, CA 94539 | | Western Career College | Campus | Emeryville, CA 94608 | | Expression College for Digital Arts | Campus | Emeryville, CA 94608 | | Western Career College | Campus | San Jose, CA 95119 | | University of Phoenix | Campus | Lathrop, CA 95330 | | Charter College | Campus | Anchorage, AK 99508 |
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