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The differences between design drafters and detail drafters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a design drafter and a detail drafter. Additionally, a design drafter has an average salary of $50,021, which is higher than the $44,472 average annual salary of a detail drafter.
The top three skills for a design drafter include layout drawings, auto cad and engineering drawings. The most important skills for a detail drafter are shop drawings, layout drawings, and assembly drawings.
| Design Drafter | Detail Drafter | |
| Yearly salary | $50,021 | $44,472 |
| Hourly rate | $24.05 | $21.38 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 39,125 | 5,656 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Associate Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 detail drafter specializes in developing concepts and drafts for different projects. Although their duties may vary upon their industry or company of employment, it usually entails identifying and understanding the clients' needs and preferences, conducting research and analyses, drawing sketches and outlines, presenting drafts for client approval, and performing revisions as necessary. They must also comply with deadlines and budgets, coordinate with team members, and train new drafters. Moreover, a detail drafter must be proactive at dealing with issues and must adhere to the industry standards and regulations.
Design drafters and detail drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Drafter | Detail Drafter | |
| Average salary | $50,021 | $44,472 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $33,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Modesto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Hendrick Manufacturing |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a design drafter and a detail drafter in terms of educational background:
| Design Drafter | Detail Drafter | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Associate Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | LeTourneau University | LeTourneau University |
Here are the differences between design drafters' and detail drafters' demographics:
| Design Drafter | Detail Drafter | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% |
| 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, 3.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |