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Drafting technician vs structural engineering technician

The differences between drafting technicians and structural engineering technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a drafting technician and a structural engineering technician. Additionally, a structural engineering technician has an average salary of $50,784, which is higher than the $45,318 average annual salary of a drafting technician.

The top three skills for a drafting technician include engineering drawings, solidworks and revit. The most important skills for a structural engineering technician are ACI, structural analysis, and shop drawings.

Drafting technician vs structural engineering technician overview

Drafting TechnicianStructural Engineering Technician
Yearly salary$45,318$50,784
Hourly rate$21.79$24.42
Growth rate--
Number of jobs32,42766,781
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 51%Associate Degree, 45%
Average age4545
Years of experience1010

Drafting technician vs structural engineering technician salary

Drafting technicians and structural engineering technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Drafting TechnicianStructural Engineering Technician
Average salary$45,318$50,784
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $65,000Between $35,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateNew Jersey-
Best paying companyCity of Detroit-
Best paying industryEnergy-

Differences between drafting technician and structural engineering technician education

There are a few differences between a drafting technician and a structural engineering technician in terms of educational background:

Drafting TechnicianStructural Engineering Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 51%Associate Degree, 45%
Most common majorDrafting And DesignCivil Engineering
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

Drafting technician vs structural engineering technician demographics

Here are the differences between drafting technicians' and structural engineering technicians' demographics:

Drafting TechnicianStructural Engineering Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 76.4% Female, 23.6%Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 9.3% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between drafting technician and structural engineering technician duties and responsibilities

Drafting technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage database and set projects against MEP, HSE, and ADA requirements.
  • Manage the life cycle of the product using PLM from creation to the top of production sample.
  • Prepare construction drawings for documentation using AutoCAD and Revit.
  • Draft boundary, topographic, and alta surveys.
  • Create avionic and electrical drawing with ANSI regulations & standards.
  • Develop exceptional SolidWorks skills, completing all projects on time and to specifications.
  • Show more

Structural engineering technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Mentore other structural engineers on 2D and 3D FEA for several turbines parts.
  • Train and ACI certify to perform laboratory analysis of soil, concrete, and asphalt properties.
  • Design government research facility in STAAD using calculate design loads.
  • Perform tests on RF and digital electronic assemblies and systems to characterize performance, uncover specification deficiencies and repair damage circuitry.
  • Perform basic electrical and mechanical repairs on all kitchen equipment, refrigeration, plumbing and electrical circuits.

Drafting technician vs structural engineering technician skills

Common drafting technician skills
  • Engineering Drawings, 10%
  • Solidworks, 9%
  • Revit, 9%
  • Auto CAD, 6%
  • Aided Design, 6%
  • Civil 3D, 6%
Common structural engineering technician skills
  • ACI, 30%
  • Structural Analysis, 14%
  • Shop Drawings, 13%
  • Construction Materials, 10%
  • Design Drawings, 8%
  • FEA, 7%

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