How To Become An Autocad Drafter: What It Is and Career Path

What is an autocad drafter and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

An AutoCAD drafter is an individual specializing in creating technical drawings using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. These designs can either be two-dimensional or three-dimensional and can be used by structural engineers, architects, and civil engineers. An AutoCAD drafter's role is liaising with architects and engineers to design blueprints and generate models.

AutoCAD drafters should be endowed with knowledge and skills such as creativity, drawing skills, engineering, writing skills, communication skills, computer skills, and exceptional accuracy. They should also be detail-oriented to add details to architectural plans from their building techniques.

An AutoCAD Drafter works full time 40 hours a week from Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. Their job involves doing site visits requiring them to work until late in the evenings and weekends occasionally.

ScoreAutocad DrafterUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $41,984

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.3

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 7.02%

Black or African American 3.09%

Hispanic or Latino 11.66%

Unknown 5.20%

White 72.33%

Gender

female 27.75%

male 72.25%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

4.3

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an autocad drafter

Explore autocad drafter education requirements

Most common autocad drafter degrees

Bachelor's

41.9 %

Associate

41.7 %

Master's

4.7 %

Start to develop specific autocad drafter skills

Skills	Percentages
Construction Drawings	12.43%
Layout Drawings	7.83%
Revit	7.62%
Shop Drawings	7.06%
GIS	5.35%

Complete relevant autocad drafter training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 4-10 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New autocad drafters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an autocad drafter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real autocad drafter resumes.

Research autocad drafter duties and responsibilities

Update mechanical drawings per engineering change orders using AutoCAD and SolidWorks.
Create as-built drawings for security systems using AutoCAD
Produce complete architectural drawings for several residential projects, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing construction documents.
Create and maintain BOM for each job design

Prepare your autocad drafter resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your autocad drafter resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an autocad drafter resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable autocad drafter resume templates

Build a professional autocad drafter resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your autocad drafter resume.