How to hire a draftsman

How to hire a draftsman, step by step

Here's a step-by-step draftsman hiring guide:

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

What does a draftsman do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the draftsman you need to hire. Certain draftsman roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A draftsman's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, draftsmen from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of draftsmen.

   Type of Draftsman	Description	Hourly rate
   Draftsman	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.	$14-28
   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
   Design Checker	A design checker takes responsibility for the examination of engineering drawings of installations, assemblies, and parts to ensure completeness and accuracy. Design checkers review the drawings to check the application of geometric tolerances, the appropriate manufacturing details, and the best drafting practices... Show more	$24-53

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Autocad LT
   • Auto CAD
   • Layout Drawings
   • Shop Drawings
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Construction Drawings
   • HVAC
   • Assembly Drawings
   • Technical Drawings
   • R
   • Structural Steel
   • Sketch
   • Aided Design
   • CNC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and supervise other draftsmen.
   • Create architectural drawings using AutoCAD and Revit.
   • Locate correct cut length for windows, doors and electrical wiring.
   • Complete assignments in compliance with NRC, ANSI and AMSE regulations.
   • Design and develop documentation for new & existing products per ANSI standards.
   • Prepare mechanical detail, assembly, exploded-view, sketch and bills of material.

   More draftsman duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, draftsmen' average salary in maine is 37% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level draftsmen 49% less than senior-level draftsmen.
   • Certifications. A draftsman 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 draftsman's salary.

   Average draftsman salary

   $42,908yearly

   $20.63 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level draftsman salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average draftsman salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$55,186	$27
   2	Ohio	$47,230	$23
   3	Arkansas	$46,298	$22
   4	Arizona	$45,963	$22
   5	Massachusetts	$44,392	$21
   6	Oklahoma	$43,239	$21
   7	Illinois	$42,972	$21
   8	Louisiana	$42,179	$20
   9	Utah	$41,715	$20
   10	Maryland	$41,615	$20
   11	Nevada	$41,364	$20
   12	Colorado	$40,430	$19
   13	New Hampshire	$39,565	$19
   14	Missouri	$39,463	$19
   15	Texas	$39,259	$19
   16	Virginia	$39,215	$19
   17	North Carolina	$38,544	$19
   18	Indiana	$38,539	$19
   19	Florida	$37,418	$18
   20	Tennessee	$36,100	$17

   Average draftsman salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	NV Energy	$50,937	$24.49
   2	Contract Lumber	$49,609	$23.85
   3	GPAC	$49,105	$23.61
   4	Lincoln Electric	$46,648	$22.43
   5	Traylor Bros	$45,628	$21.94
   6	Rain the Growth Agency	$44,862	$21.57
   7	USA Vein Clinics	$44,664	$21.47
   8	Summit Industrial	$43,780	$21.05
   9	Cherokee Nation Businesses	$43,767	$21.04
   10	BENNETT & BUTLER, INC.	$41,510	$19.96
   11	Thompson Steel Co Inc	$41,406	$19.91
   12	SNI Financial	$41,394	$19.90
   13	Leidos	$41,349	$19.88	22
   14	Randstad North America, Inc.	$41,125	$19.77	1
   15	IMI plc	$41,079	$19.75
   16	S & B Engineers and Constructors	$41,046	$19.73
   17	Kelly Services	$40,828	$19.63	1
   18	Cliffs	$40,709	$19.57
   19	Microdesk	$40,430	$19.44
   20	ALTIVIA	$40,172	$19.31

4. Writing a draftsman job description

   A good draftsman job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a draftsman job description:

   Draftsman job description example

   This position is responsible for providing engineering with hands-on drafting support (2D & 3D) necessary for the manufacturing of code vessels, code separators, piping systems, structural skids, packaged assemblies, mechanical equipment, controls, etc. Duties include working in conjunction with plant personnel, design engineers, project and shop personnel to produce detailed layouts, hand sketches, P&IDs and project notes that will be loaded into the software to produce the blueprints necessary to manufacture the product.
   Requirements
   
   Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for code vessels, code separators, piping systems, structural skids, packaged assemblies, mechanical equipment, controls, etc. using computer-assisted design and drafting (CADD) computer software.
   
   Demonstrated proficiency within any related drafting discipline (i.e., civil, mechanical, electrical, process piping, etc.).
   
   Experience with 3-D design, ASME Code, welded steel structures and piping preferred.
   
   Proficiency reading and interpreting P&ID's, PFD's and GA drawings.
   
   Work in conjunction with design engineers, project and shop personnel to produce detailed layouts, hand sketches/drawings and project notes to convert into CADD blueprints.
   
   Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs including the procedures and instructions to be followed.
   
   Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
   
   Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials.
   
   Layout and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
   
   Work collaboratively with others to pursue department and company goals.
   
   Review schematics and answer questions pertaining to assembly procedures and instructions.
   
   Layout, draw, and reproduce illustrations for reference manuals and technical publications to describe operation and maintenance of mechanical systems.
   
   Verify the nominal fits of all parts as they are detailed from an overall layout
   
   Plot and manage CAD files, original plots, and CNC part programs per company standards and manage the electronic file backups.
   
   Incorporate red-lines to original drawings from shop drawings as delegated by engineering.
   
   Self-check and correct all work prior to submitting for final review/production.
   
   Executes drafting work in AutoCAD to meet high quality standards and efficiency metrics
   
   Perform drawing maintenance including: updates, revisions, and development of as-built record documents
   
   Perform any other job responsibilities and duties as assigned by Management.
   
   Minimum Requirements for this position: 3+ years of design/drafting related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience, however, attained; associates degree in Computer Aided Drafting required. Advanced education/experience related to engineering preferred. Must have a strong background in mathematics.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find draftsmen for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit draftsmen, 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 draftsman

   Once you've selected the best draftsman 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new draftsman 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 draftsman?