Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between architectural designers and architectural drafters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an architectural designer and an architectural drafter. Additionally, an architectural designer has an average salary of $59,122, which is higher than the $49,944 average annual salary of an architectural drafter.
The top three skills for an architectural designer include sketch, sketchup and BIM. The most important skills for an architectural drafter are revit, construction drawings, and architectural drawings.
| Architectural Designer | Architectural Drafter | |
| Yearly salary | $59,122 | $49,944 |
| Hourly rate | $28.42 | $24.01 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 54,358 | 7,139 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An Architectural Designer is specialized in planning and designing structures/urban landscapes. They ensure that company policies and standards are maintained when providing services to clients.
Architectural drafters are skilled professionals who work alongside architects and engineers to craft technical drawings of construction projects. They use computer software to render technical models of designs made by architects. They create these designs in great detail to ensure that everything is captured perfectly. Architectural drafters may specialize in different design areas, such as building or infrastructure type and materials used for construction. Architectural drafters need to visit the site for a better appreciation of the project. They may also use this time to coordinate with engineers and architects.
Architectural designers and architectural drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architectural Designer | Architectural Drafter | |
| Average salary | $59,122 | $49,944 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $77,000 | Between $37,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Apple | Rafael Viñoly Architects |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between an architectural designer and an architectural drafter in terms of educational background:
| Architectural Designer | Architectural Drafter | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between architectural designers' and architectural drafters' demographics:
| Architectural Designer | Architectural Drafter | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% | Male, 68.0% Female, 32.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |