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The differences between design drafters and design engineers 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 design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a design engineer has an average salary of $77,134, which is higher than the $50,021 average annual salary of a design drafter.
The top three skills for a design drafter include layout drawings, auto cad and engineering drawings. The most important skills for a design engineer are C++, UL, and project management.
| Design Drafter | Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $50,021 | $77,134 |
| Hourly rate | $24.05 | $37.08 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 39,125 | 138,173 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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 design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system's stability and high-quality processes. A design engineer should also have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks and meet deadlines.
Design drafters and design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Drafter | Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $50,021 | $77,134 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $57,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design drafter and a design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Drafter | Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | LeTourneau University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between design drafters' and design engineers' demographics:
| Design Drafter | Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |