How to hire a detail drafter

How to hire a detail drafter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step detail drafter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a detail drafter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new detail drafter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a detail drafter do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the detail drafter you need to hire. Certain detail drafter roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a detail drafter to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a detail drafter that fits the bill.

   This list presents detail drafter salaries for various positions.

   Type of Detail Drafter	Description	Hourly rate
   Detail Drafter	Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.	$15-28
   Computer Aided Design Designer	A computer-aided design (CAD) designer is responsible for creating plan outlines and project designs for a specific business need. A CAD designer utilizes various technologies and software applications to generate graphic illustrations... Show more	$19-42
   Design Checker	A design checker takes responsibility for the examination of engineering drawings of installations, assemblies, and parts to ensure completeness and accuracy. Design checkers review the drawings to check the application of geometric tolerances, the appropriate manufacturing details, and the best drafting practices... Show more	$24-53

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Shop Drawings
   • Layout Drawings
   • Assembly Drawings
   • Construction Drawings
   • Installation Drawings
   • CNC
   • Mechanical Drawings
   • Aided Design
   • BOM
   • Architectural Drawings
   • GD
   • Plumbing
   • Auto CAD
   • Engineering Drawings

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create drawings of elevator interiors using SolidWorks
   • Develop, organize and maintain AutoCAD standards for designers to use resulting in efficient production and time management.
   • Work perform in PDMS Design/Draft and AutoCAD r.2006.

   More detail drafter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the detail drafter job description is a good way to get more applicants. A detail drafter salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a detail drafter in Tennessee may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level detail drafter. Additionally, a detail drafter with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average detail drafter salary

   $44,472yearly

   $21.38 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level detail drafter salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated February 1, 2026

   Average detail drafter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$51,624	$25
   2	Arkansas	$49,633	$24
   3	Ohio	$47,930	$23
   4	Georgia	$45,913	$22
   5	Texas	$43,899	$21
   6	Arizona	$43,876	$21
   7	Pennsylvania	$43,586	$21
   8	New Jersey	$43,457	$21
   9	Connecticut	$42,896	$21
   10	North Carolina	$41,450	$20
   11	Missouri	$41,051	$20
   12	Wisconsin	$40,778	$20
   13	Maryland	$40,610	$20
   14	Indiana	$39,534	$19
   15	Alabama	$38,959	$19
   16	Oregon	$38,824	$19
   17	Minnesota	$38,701	$19
   18	Tennessee	$38,648	$19
   19	Virginia	$35,911	$17
   20	Idaho	$35,228	$17

   Average detail drafter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Hendrick Manufacturing	$55,379	$26.62	2
   2	Northrop Grumman	$53,646	$25.79
   3	Steel Dynamics	$51,838	$24.92	10
   4	EMCOR Group	$51,574	$24.80	6
   5	Brochsteins	$49,857	$23.97
   6	Big-D Construction	$48,909	$23.51	1
   7	Belcan	$47,487	$22.83	1
   8	Nucor	$44,796	$21.54	5
   9	Steward Machine	$44,582	$21.43
   10	Blaine Event Services	$44,323	$21.31
   11	Kelly Services	$43,159	$20.75	1
   12	Randstad North America, Inc.	$43,140	$20.74	1
   13	Whirlwind Steel Buildings	$40,794	$19.61	1
   14	R.M. Schulte & Associates	$40,231	$19.34
   15	Express Employment Indy South	$39,685	$19.08	2

4. Writing a detail drafter job description

   A job description for a detail drafter role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a detail drafter job description:

   Detail drafter job description example

   Job DescriptionSalary: $30-60K yearly
   

   CAD Draftsperson/Detailer Job Opportunity

   Well established Dallas based employee owned architectural metal company with a Nationwide customer base is looking to hire a CAD Designer/Detailer with mechanical aptitude and a focus on high standards of quality. This year we will create over $8 million in hand forged and machine shop produced architectural structures. Custom projects including residential fabrications to commercial railing projects. We are a financially strong and stable company.

   Position Description:

   Motivated by a great work ethic and attitude the CAD Designer/Detailer will produce erection, shop fabrication drawings for architectural/ornamental and light structural metals. Primary products are stairs, railing systems and light structural applications. With good all around organizational and communication skills, the CAD Designer/Detailer will interface with all persons involved in the product and interpret architectural/engineering drawing to produce erection and fabrication drawings. The CAD Designer/Detailer must be willing and able to take direction, as well as, direct internal and external organizations. This position requires an ambitious character and a need to learn and grow at their profession in to a Design role. Candidate must be a dependable team player fitting in with existing employees and like a challenge. The person must understand and accept the team and family culture and strive to make us the first choice for employment.

   Position Requirements:

   • Proficiency in AutoCAD 2013 or higher
   • Proficiency in basic math, geometry and trigonometry
   • Familiar with metal shapes and properties in ferrous and non-ferrous materials
   • 2-5 years of AutoCAD experience
   • 2+ year construction related industry experience
   • High School Diploma
   • Military Training a very big plus
   • 3D experience a very big plus
   • Checking experience a very big plus
   • AutoCAD Training
   • Good verbal and written communication skills
   • Capable of passing a background and drug test
   • Eligible to work in the United States
   • Metal Fabrication experience a plus

   Compensation:

   Commensurate with experience level

   Benefits:

   • Employee Stock Ownership Plan: Awarded at 25% of compensation starting after one year anniversary
   • Health Insurance, 401k, paid vacation, paid holidays
   • Bonus plan after one year

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right detail drafter for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your detail drafter job on Zippia to find and recruit detail drafter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with detail drafter candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new detail drafter

   Once you have selected a candidate for the detail drafter position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new detail drafter. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a detail drafter?