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The differences between detail drafters and senior design 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 detail drafter and a senior design drafter. Additionally, a senior design drafter has an average salary of $50,329, which is higher than the $44,472 average annual salary of a detail drafter.
The top three skills for a detail drafter include shop drawings, layout drawings and assembly drawings. The most important skills for a senior design drafter are engineering drawings, aided design, and assembly drawings.
| Detail Drafter | Senior Design Drafter | |
| Yearly salary | $44,472 | $50,329 |
| Hourly rate | $21.38 | $24.20 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 5,656 | 37,776 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 64% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A Senior Design Drafter is responsible for designing, drafting, and checking drawings, maps, diagrams, and documentation for the projects of an organization. They analyze, interpret, and explain drafts and drawings.
Detail drafters and senior design drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Detail Drafter | Senior Design Drafter | |
| Average salary | $44,472 | $50,329 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $59,000 | Between $33,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Modesto, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Hendrick Manufacturing | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a detail drafter and a senior design drafter in terms of educational background:
| Detail Drafter | Senior Design Drafter | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 64% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | LeTourneau University | LeTourneau University |
Here are the differences between detail drafters' and senior design drafters' demographics:
| Detail Drafter | Senior Design Drafter | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% | Male, 82.5% Female, 17.5% |
| 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% |