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The differences between architectural drafters and architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an architectural drafter, becoming an architect takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an architect has an average salary of $86,635, which is higher than the $49,944 average annual salary of an architectural drafter.
The top three skills for an architectural drafter include revit, construction drawings and architectural drawings. The most important skills for an architect are cloud, java, and infrastructure.
| Architectural Drafter | Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $49,944 | $86,635 |
| Hourly rate | $24.01 | $41.65 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 7,139 | 94,621 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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.
Architects are licensed professionals who specialize in art and science of design, building constructions, and structures. They play a vital role in the construction and not only responsible for the appearance but also the safety of users. They ensure that every structure is functional, safe, cost-effective, and suit the needs of the future occupants. They closely monitor the working progress to make sure that the project is built according to plan. Some architects are focused mainly on creating designs while some are exclusive in the production of building plans or "blueprints".
Architectural drafters and architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architectural Drafter | Architect | |
| Average salary | $49,944 | $86,635 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $65,000 | Between $54,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Rafael Viñoly Architects | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between an architectural drafter and an architect in terms of educational background:
| Architectural Drafter | Architect | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Architecture |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between architectural drafters' and architects' demographics:
| Architectural Drafter | Architect | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.0% Female, 32.0% | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% |
| 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, 2.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 16.0% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 15% |