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Draftsman/designer vs architectural drafter

The differences between draftsman/designers and architectural drafters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a draftsman/designer and an architectural drafter. Additionally, a draftsman/designer has an average salary of $52,529, which is higher than the $49,944 average annual salary of an architectural drafter.

The top three skills for a draftsman/designer include design layouts, solidworks and shop drawings. The most important skills for an architectural drafter are revit, construction drawings, and architectural drawings.

Draftsman/designer vs architectural drafter overview

Draftsman/DesignerArchitectural Drafter
Yearly salary$52,529$49,944
Hourly rate$25.25$24.01
Growth rate-3%-3%
Number of jobs47,3417,139
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 51%Associate Degree, 45%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

Draftsman/designer vs architectural drafter salary

Draftsman/designers and architectural drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Draftsman/DesignerArchitectural Drafter
Average salary$52,529$49,944
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $89,000Between $37,000 And $65,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew JerseyRhode Island
Best paying companyTalentBurstRafael Viñoly Architects
Best paying industryTechnologyProfessional

Differences between draftsman/designer and architectural drafter education

There are a few differences between a draftsman/designer and an architectural drafter in terms of educational background:

Draftsman/DesignerArchitectural Drafter
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 51%Associate Degree, 45%
Most common majorDrafting And DesignDrafting And Design
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

Draftsman/designer vs architectural drafter demographics

Here are the differences between draftsman/designers' and architectural drafters' demographics:

Draftsman/DesignerArchitectural Drafter
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 92.2% Female, 7.8%Male, 68.0% Female, 32.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between draftsman/designer and architectural drafter duties and responsibilities

Draftsman/designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage and supervise other draftsmen.
  • Assist with structural steel detailing, machine design, CNC graphics and ceramics machine design projects.
  • Detail preliminary design drawings to create BOM's, production use shop layouts, and specific details.
  • Travele to various work sites to dimension and sketch details of the projects.
  • Develop and maintain current Revit templates for consistency and overall visual quality of projects.
  • Design and draft building components from red lines create by MEP engineers with revit software.
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Architectural drafter example responsibilities.

  • Lead the development of BIM modeling content for the architecture team as a direct report to the executive and lead architects.
  • Prepare plumbing schematics and as-built.
  • Utilize AutoCAD 2005 and MicroStation V8.
  • Operate Microstation SE and Microstation V8.
  • Demonstrate expertise in building code, lighting, MEP.
  • Translate the client's briefs into sketch plans for client approval.
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Draftsman/designer vs architectural drafter skills

Common draftsman/designer skills
  • Design Layouts, 16%
  • Solidworks, 10%
  • Shop Drawings, 5%
  • R, 4%
  • HVAC, 4%
  • Customer Specifications, 3%
Common architectural drafter skills
  • Revit, 28%
  • Construction Drawings, 11%
  • Architectural Drawings, 7%
  • Shop Drawings, 6%
  • Sketch, 6%
  • Building Codes, 6%

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