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The differences between architectural drafters and design drafters 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 a design drafter takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a design drafter has an average salary of $50,021, 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 a design drafter are layout drawings, auto cad, and engineering drawings.
| Architectural Drafter | Design Drafter | |
| Yearly salary | $49,944 | $50,021 |
| Hourly rate | $24.01 | $24.05 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 7,139 | 39,125 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 56% |
| 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.
A design drafter is responsible for creating a technical draft of the architects' and engineers' designs using various software applications. Design drafters analyze schematics and blueprints and compare the specifications to the draft, ensuring all the features' accuracy. They review structural details and perform adjustments based on the building techniques standards. A design drafter must have excellent knowledge with the engineering disciplines, as well as manufacturing processes to determine dimensions and minimize material costs without compromising the construction quality.
Architectural drafters and design drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architectural Drafter | Design Drafter | |
| Average salary | $49,944 | $50,021 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $65,000 | Between $37,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Rafael Viñoly Architects | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between an architectural drafter and a design drafter in terms of educational background:
| Architectural Drafter | Design Drafter | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | LeTourneau University |
Here are the differences between architectural drafters' and design drafters' demographics:
| Architectural Drafter | Design Drafter | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.0% Female, 32.0% | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% |
| 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, 3.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |