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The differences between electrical drafters and architectural designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an electrical drafter, becoming an architectural designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an architectural designer has an average salary of $59,122, which is higher than the $52,027 average annual salary of an electrical drafter.
The top three skills for an electrical drafter include autocad electrical, revit and design software. The most important skills for an architectural designer are sketch, sketchup, and BIM.
| Electrical Drafter | Architectural Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,027 | $59,122 |
| Hourly rate | $25.01 | $28.42 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 30,376 | 54,358 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
An electrical drafter specializes in designing electrical wiring systems in coordination with engineers and architects, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include performing extensive research and analysis, drawing detailed diagrams, examining sites and available resources, and establishing technical guidelines. They may also review installation diagrams and documentation, assist technicians, and address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as an electrical drafter, it is essential to adhere to deadlines and goals, including the company's safety policies and regulations.
An Architectural Designer is specialized in planning and designing structures/urban landscapes. They ensure that company policies and standards are maintained when providing services to clients.
Electrical drafters and architectural designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Drafter | Architectural Designer | |
| Average salary | $52,027 | $59,122 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $66,000 | Between $45,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Stantec | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Professional |
There are a few differences between an electrical drafter and an architectural designer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Drafter | Architectural Designer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Architecture |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between electrical drafters' and architectural designers' demographics:
| Electrical Drafter | Architectural Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |