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The differences between design drafters and drafting engineers 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 drafting engineer. Additionally, a drafting engineer has an average salary of $50,871, 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 drafting engineer are production drawings, engineering drawings, and auto cad.
| Design Drafter | Drafting Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $50,021 | $50,871 |
| Hourly rate | $24.05 | $24.46 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 39,125 | 8,823 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| 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 Drafting Engineer designs and draws the blueprints needed to bring new concepts and products to life. There are three major types of drafting positions: mechanical drafters, electrical and electronics drafters, and architectural and civil drafters.
Design drafters and drafting engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Drafter | Drafting Engineer | |
| Average salary | $50,021 | $50,871 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $36,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Union City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Huitt-Zollars |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a design drafter and a drafting engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Drafter | Drafting Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | LeTourneau University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between design drafters' and drafting engineers' demographics:
| Design Drafter | Drafting Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| 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% |