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The differences between drafters and architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a drafter, becoming an architect takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an architect has an average salary of $86,635, which is higher than the $43,542 average annual salary of a drafter.
The top three skills for a drafter include layout drawings, aided design and revit. The most important skills for an architect are cloud, java, and infrastructure.
| Drafter | Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $43,542 | $86,635 |
| Hourly rate | $20.93 | $41.65 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 3,968 | 94,621 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
The duties of a drafter vary on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the information technology setting, a drafter specializes in creating a three-dimensional model for software and other applications upon gathering details and specifications from designers and other personnel. A drafter usually works with a team and is supervised by a manager or a more experienced colleague. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with the team involved, all while adhering to the policies and standards of the company.
Architects are licensed professionals who specialize in art and science of design, building constructions, and structures. They play a vital role in the construction and not only responsible for the appearance but also the safety of users. They ensure that every structure is functional, safe, cost-effective, and suit the needs of the future occupants. They closely monitor the working progress to make sure that the project is built according to plan. Some architects are focused mainly on creating designs while some are exclusive in the production of building plans or "blueprints".
Drafters and architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drafter | Architect | |
| Average salary | $43,542 | $86,635 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $56,000 | Between $54,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Alaska |
| Best paying company | National Grid plc | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a drafter and an architect in terms of educational background:
| Drafter | Architect | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Architecture |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between drafters' and architects' demographics:
| Drafter | Architect | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.7% Female, 25.3% | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 16.0% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 15% |