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The differences between drafters and requirements engineers 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 requirements engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a requirements engineer has an average salary of $87,170, 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 requirements engineer are java, software development, and powerpoint.
| Drafter | Requirements Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $43,542 | $87,170 |
| Hourly rate | $20.93 | $41.91 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 3,968 | 166,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| 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.
Requirements engineers are responsible for the analysis, documentation, coordination, and management of requirements regarding new software projects. They identify and understand the customer's project-specific demands and document them in a clear and binding way. Their duties and responsibilities also include preparing well-written and detailed documentation of the project and ensuring the project is designed and built within the legal parameters.
Drafters and requirements engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drafter | Requirements Engineer | |
| Average salary | $43,542 | $87,170 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $56,000 | Between $62,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | National Grid plc | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a drafter and a requirements engineer in terms of educational background:
| Drafter | Requirements Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between drafters' and requirements engineers' demographics:
| Drafter | Requirements Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.7% Female, 25.3% | Male, 64.5% Female, 35.5% |
| 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, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |