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The differences between drafting engineers and senior design drafters 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 senior design drafter. Additionally, a drafting engineer has an average salary of $50,871, which is higher than the $50,329 average annual salary of a senior design drafter.
The top three skills for a drafting engineer include production drawings, engineering drawings and auto cad. The most important skills for a senior design drafter are engineering drawings, aided design, and assembly drawings.
| Drafting Engineer | Senior Design Drafter | |
| Yearly salary | $50,871 | $50,329 |
| Hourly rate | $24.46 | $24.20 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 8,823 | 37,776 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Drafting Engineer designs and draws the blueprints needed to bring new concepts and products to life. There are three major types of drafting positions: mechanical drafters, electrical and electronics drafters, and architectural and civil drafters.
A Senior Design Drafter is responsible for designing, drafting, and checking drawings, maps, diagrams, and documentation for the projects of an organization. They analyze, interpret, and explain drafts and drawings.
Drafting engineers and senior design drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drafting Engineer | Senior Design Drafter | |
| Average salary | $50,871 | $50,329 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $71,000 | Between $33,000 And $74,000 |
| 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 senior design drafter in terms of educational background:
| Drafting Engineer | Senior Design Drafter | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | LeTourneau University |
Here are the differences between drafting engineers' and senior design drafters' demographics:
| Drafting Engineer | Senior Design Drafter | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% | Male, 82.5% Female, 17.5% |
| 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% |