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The differences between design drafters and computer aided drafters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a design drafter, becoming a computer aided drafter takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a design drafter has an average salary of $50,021, which is higher than the $43,520 average annual salary of a computer aided drafter.
The top three skills for a design drafter include layout drawings, auto cad and engineering drawings. The most important skills for a computer aided drafter are cad standards, revit, and aided design.
| Design Drafter | Computer Aided Drafter | |
| Yearly salary | $50,021 | $43,520 |
| Hourly rate | $24.05 | $20.92 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 39,125 | 16,907 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Associate Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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.
A computer-aided drafter is responsible for creating designs, usually for industrial manufacturing and construction projects, using computer-aided software systems and applications. Computer-aided drafters should have excellent command in programming languages and navigating computer system codes to develop a technical output, following the clients' specifications and business requirements. They also work closely with design engineers to discuss dimensions, costs, materials, and production processes. A computer-aided drafter must be highly communicative and organizational, incorporating all the schematics, developing operational manuals, and performing draft adjustment as needed.
Design drafters and computer aided drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Drafter | Computer Aided Drafter | |
| Average salary | $50,021 | $43,520 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $33,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Kearny, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Apple | Johnson Controls |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Professional |
There are a few differences between a design drafter and a computer aided drafter in terms of educational background:
| Design Drafter | Computer Aided Drafter | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Associate Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | LeTourneau University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between design drafters' and computer aided drafters' demographics:
| Design Drafter | Computer Aided Drafter | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% | Male, 74.2% Female, 25.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |