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The differences between drafters and draftsmen 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 draftsman takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a drafter has an average salary of $43,542, which is higher than the $42,908 average annual salary of a draftsman.
The top three skills for a drafter include layout drawings, aided design and revit. The most important skills for a draftsman are autocad lt, auto cad, and layout drawings.
| Drafter | Draftsman | |
| Yearly salary | $43,542 | $42,908 |
| Hourly rate | $20.93 | $20.63 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 3,968 | 3,143 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| 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.
Draftsmen are professionals with expertise in computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) drawings. They perform similar tasks as architects, such as preparing CADD drawings. They typically specialize in different areas, including construction, architecture, or civil engineering. They also prepare drawings for manufacturing. These drawings include technical specifications and details such as dimensions, procedures, and materials. Draftsmen also utilize technical handbooks, tables, and calculators, in addition to CADD. Employers often prefer a draftsman with drafting training, which you can obtain from community colleges or technical institutes.
Drafters and draftsmen have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drafter | Draftsman | |
| Average salary | $43,542 | $42,908 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $56,000 | Between $30,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Alameda, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | National Grid plc | NV Energy |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between a drafter and a draftsman in terms of educational background:
| Drafter | Draftsman | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between drafters' and draftsmen' demographics:
| Drafter | Draftsman | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.7% Female, 25.3% | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% |
| 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, 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% |