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Building drafter vs structural drafter

The differences between building drafters and structural drafters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a building drafter and a structural drafter. Additionally, a building drafter has an average salary of $53,715, which is higher than the $48,536 average annual salary of a structural drafter.

The top three skills for a building drafter include autocad, and . The most important skills for a structural drafter are revit, shop drawings, and structural drawings.

Building drafter vs structural drafter overview

Building DrafterStructural Drafter
Yearly salary$53,715$48,536
Hourly rate$25.82$23.33
Growth rate-3%-3%
Number of jobs6,8794,685
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Associate Degree, 63%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

Building drafter vs structural drafter salary

Building drafters and structural drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Building DrafterStructural Drafter
Average salary$53,715$48,536
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $79,000Between $36,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Jacobs Engineering Group
Best paying industry-Energy

Differences between building drafter and structural drafter education

There are a few differences between a building drafter and a structural drafter in terms of educational background:

Building DrafterStructural Drafter
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Associate Degree, 63%
Most common majorDrafting And DesignDrafting And Design
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborCarnegie Mellon University

Building drafter vs structural drafter demographics

Here are the differences between building drafters' and structural drafters' demographics:

Building DrafterStructural Drafter
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 95.7% Female, 4.3%Male, 78.9% Female, 21.1%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage6%6%

Differences between building drafter and structural drafter duties and responsibilities

Building drafter example responsibilities.

  • Learned and utilize AutoCAD by practicing several drawing types from restaurants to hotels.
  • Render complete assemblies of conveyor systems to customer's specifications using SolidWorks.
  • Utilize extensive skills in CADD technology, complement by construction industry expertise to provide tailor designs meeting customer needs.

Structural drafter example responsibilities.

  • Create as-built AutoCAD and Revit structural drawings for existing conditions.
  • Create CNC nesting programs for wood, plastic, and graphics.
  • Create automated schedules, sections, views and plans from Revit database content.
  • Produce molding samples, analyze pressure & temperature control, CNC part programme adjustments.
  • Inspect electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, mold, insulation, damages, & conditions of the house.
  • Develop elevations with horizontal and vertical section detail drawings.
  • Show more

Building drafter vs structural drafter skills

Common building drafter skills
  • Autocad, 100%
Common structural drafter skills
  • Revit, 25%
  • Shop Drawings, 11%
  • Structural Drawings, 8%
  • Elevations, 6%
  • BIM, 6%
  • Construction Drawings, 5%

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