Autocad operator vs senior drafter

The differences between autocad operators and senior 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 autocad operator and a senior drafter. Additionally, a senior drafter has an average salary of $44,988, which is higher than the $44,278 average annual salary of an autocad operator.

The top three skills for an autocad operator include shop drawings, plumbing and HVAC. The most important skills for a senior drafter are autocad, layout drawings, and cad standards.

Autocad operator vs senior drafter overview

	Autocad Operator	Senior Drafter
Yearly salary	$44,278	$44,988
Hourly rate	$21.29	$21.63
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	27,082	3,189
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Associate Degree, 61%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	12	12

Autocad operator vs senior drafter salary

Autocad operators and senior drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Autocad Operator	Senior Drafter
Average salary	$44,278	$44,988
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $62,000	Between $33,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between autocad operator and senior drafter education

There are a few differences between an autocad operator and a senior drafter in terms of educational background:

	Autocad Operator	Senior Drafter
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Associate Degree, 61%
Most common major	Drafting And Design	Drafting And Design
Most common college	Carnegie Mellon University	Carnegie Mellon University

Autocad operator vs senior drafter demographics

Here are the differences between autocad operators' and senior drafters' demographics:

	Autocad Operator	Senior Drafter
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 77.2% Female, 22.8%	Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6%
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%

Differences between autocad operator and senior drafter duties and responsibilities

Autocad operator example responsibilities.

Manage Autodesk accounts and train drafters and field crews as well.
Incorporate HVAC construction drawings into coordination drawings
Provide Revit MEP training for employees.
Download data points to GIS software.
Assist with setting up Revit projects.
Expose to CNC machining and assist in programming them.

Senior drafter example responsibilities.

Manage the design history of 3D part models, assemblies, and drawings using PDM software.
Produce design and construction drawings electrical and HVAC departments for commercial and residential projects per applicable national codes and regulations.
Create BIM design from concept.
Detail and draft structures in Revit.
Maintain an engineering change notice (ECN) system.
Design HVAC and plumbing layouts on existing architectural xrefs.

Autocad operator vs senior drafter skills

Common autocad operator skills

Shop Drawings, 10%
Plumbing, 8%
HVAC, 7%
Auto CAD, 7%
CNC, 6%
As-Built Drawings, 6%

Common senior drafter skills

Autocad, 25%
Layout Drawings, 7%
CAD Standards, 5%
Engineering Drawings, 4%
Aided Design, 4%
Revit, 4%