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The differences between drafting engineers and mechanical draftsmen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a drafting engineer and a mechanical draftsman. Additionally, a drafting engineer has an average salary of $50,871, which is higher than the $40,926 average annual salary of a mechanical draftsman.
The top three skills for a drafting engineer include production drawings, engineering drawings and auto cad. The most important skills for a mechanical draftsman are auto cad, assembly drawings, and HVAC.
| Drafting Engineer | Mechanical Draftsman | |
| Yearly salary | $50,871 | $40,926 |
| Hourly rate | $24.46 | $19.68 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 8,823 | 17,516 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Drafting engineers and mechanical draftsmen have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drafting Engineer | Mechanical Draftsman | |
| Average salary | $50,871 | $40,926 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $71,000 | Between $33,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Union City, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Huitt-Zollars | - |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | - |
There are a few differences between a drafting engineer and a mechanical draftsman in terms of educational background:
| Drafting Engineer | Mechanical Draftsman | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between drafting engineers' and mechanical draftsmen' demographics:
| Drafting Engineer | Mechanical Draftsman | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |