How to hire a drafting engineer

How to hire a drafting engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step drafting engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a drafting engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new drafting engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a drafting engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The drafting engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect drafting engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of drafting engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Drafting Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Drafting Engineer	Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.	$17-34
   Computer Aided Design Designer	A computer-aided design (CAD) designer is responsible for creating plan outlines and project designs for a specific business need. A CAD designer utilizes various technologies and software applications to generate graphic illustrations... Show more	$19-42
   Mechanical Design Drafter	Mechanical design drafter develops detailed mechanical equipment designs and specifications needed for assembly and modifies them to repair defects and to minimize problems in the production. He/she often works with architects and engineers either in an office or via job sites with hands-on experience in computer-aided design (CAD) software and building processes, visual aptitude, and mathematical skills... Show more	$21-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Production Drawings
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Auto CAD
   • As-Built Drawings
   • Shop Drawings
   • Architectural Drawings
   • Revit
   • Aided Design
   • BOM
   • ECO
   • Civil Engineering
   • CNC
   • GIS
   • Part Drawings

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Install and test PLC in client own equipment on site - solve some logical and hardware issues to accomplish goal
   • Add ECO's revision notations.
   • Issue bill of material (BOM) for assemble parts.
   • Set up first runs for new parts and troubleshot new part CNC programs.
   • Coordinate with various GIS /FIS professionals to resolve field changes and/or field-to-map discrepancies.
   • Select as part of BCA evaluation team to implement CATIA for engineering digital design.

   More drafting engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your drafting engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A drafting engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, drafting engineers' average salary in maine is 46% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level drafting engineers 49% less than senior-level drafting engineers.
   • Certifications. A drafting engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a drafting engineer's salary.

   Average drafting engineer salary

   $50,871yearly

   $24.46 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level drafting engineer salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average drafting engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$67,621	$33
   2	Alaska	$56,370	$27
   3	New Mexico	$55,668	$27
   4	Ohio	$53,549	$26
   5	Michigan	$52,177	$25
   6	Georgia	$51,594	$25
   7	Florida	$51,046	$25
   8	Texas	$50,744	$24
   9	South Carolina	$50,384	$24
   10	Pennsylvania	$50,291	$24
   11	Colorado	$48,700	$23
   12	South Dakota	$48,483	$23
   13	New York	$47,778	$23
   14	Connecticut	$47,338	$23
   15	Maryland	$47,215	$23
   16	Virginia	$44,845	$22
   17	Tennessee	$43,176	$21

   Average drafting engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Huitt-Zollars	$65,292	$31.39
   2	Bensonwood	$64,951	$31.23
   3	Siemens	$60,999	$29.33
   4	Curtiss-Wright	$60,311	$29.00
   5	GPAC	$58,132	$27.95
   6	Parsons	$56,563	$27.19	17
   7	Intertek	$52,559	$25.27
   8	Ukpeagvik IOoOupiat Corporation	$49,398	$23.75
   9	E & S Inc	$46,069	$22.15
   10	EN Engineering	$45,961	$22.10	4
   11	Duo-Gard	$45,851	$22.04
   12	Tower Glass do Brasil	$45,665	$21.95
   13	Buffalo Wire Works	$45,315	$21.79
   14	Polamer Precision	$44,965	$21.62
   15	The Mannik & Smith Group	$44,584	$21.43
   16	ITW	$41,440	$19.92	3
   17	Air Methods	$38,470	$18.50

4. Writing a drafting engineer job description

   A drafting engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a drafting engineer job description:

   Drafting engineer job description example

   At DeBourgh, we believe in building people and storage that are stronger together. After 112 years of satisfying customers' needs, our family-owned, American company has earned a reputation as the leading manufacturer of durable, reliable storage solutions. Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, DeBourgh is looking to make new connections for elite, lifetime storage for the next 100 years.

   
   

   Can you see yourself here?

   • You'll generate approval and installation drawings through general engineering procedures.
   • You'll communicate with the Sales department and dealers regarding technical and drawing questions.
   • You'll draw new parts.

   
   

   What you need to bring to the table

   • Associate degree and/or architectural/engineering training preferred
   • Computer (advanced Excel skills) and AutoCAD background
   • Attention to detail

   
   

   Who's on your team?

   We are committed to our work and like to have fun. We enjoy Southeastern Colorado and its beauty.

   
   

   Status: Full time

   
   

   Compensation: $19.23-$23.05 with comprehensive benefits package - health insurance coverage - medical/dental/vision, FSA, HSA, EAP, 401(k) with employer match, PTO, holiday pay, bereavement leave, basic life/AD&D, childcare tuition reimbursement.

   
   

   Why DeBourgh?

   We build more than lockers - we build relationships. And just like our lockers, we intend to build them for life. You have a plethora of choices for a job, at DeBourgh you could build a career. We are committed to being the first choice for employment in Southeast Colorado. If you are looking for a challenging, growing environment that makes the best product in the industry, come join us. Work with us, and be part of a great team!

   
   

   Isn't it time you joined our winning team?

   
   

   *** DeBourgh Mfg. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find drafting engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any drafting engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level drafting engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your drafting engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit drafting engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit drafting engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new drafting engineer

   Once you've selected the best drafting engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new drafting engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a drafting engineer?