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The differences between drafters and design technicians 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 a design technician takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a design technician has an average salary of $62,288, 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 a design technician are revit, civil 3d, and aided design.
| Drafter | Design Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $43,542 | $62,288 |
| Hourly rate | $20.93 | $29.95 |
| Growth rate | -3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 3,968 | 48,394 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Associate Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 10 |
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.
A design technician's role revolves around conducting extensive research and analysis to determine a company's needs. The technician will develop system plans and collaborate with fellow technicians and engineers. There are also instances where a design technician has to craft presentations and hand in proposals, revising them when necessary. Furthermore, a design technician must produce progress reports, abide by managers' directions, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Drafters and design technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drafter | Design Technician | |
| Average salary | $43,542 | $62,288 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $56,000 | Between $37,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | National Grid plc | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a drafter and a design technician in terms of educational background:
| Drafter | Design Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Associate Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between drafters' and design technicians' demographics:
| Drafter | Design Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.7% Female, 25.3% | Male, 71.8% Female, 28.2% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |