How to hire an electrical drafter

Electrical drafter hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring electrical drafters in the United States:

The median cost to hire an electrical drafter is $1,633.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
Small businesses spend $1,105 per electrical drafter on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
There are a total of 38,155 electrical drafters in the US, and there are currently 30,376 job openings in this field.
Laurel, MD, has the highest demand for electrical drafters, with 6 job openings.

How to hire an electrical drafter, step by step

To hire an electrical drafter, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an electrical drafter, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step electrical drafter hiring guide:

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

What does an electrical drafter do?

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.

Learn more about the specifics of what an electrical drafter does

Post an electrical drafter job for free, promote it for a fee

Identify your hiring needs

Before you post your electrical drafter job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an electrical drafter for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

Determine employee vs contractor status

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

Hiring the perfect electrical drafter 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.

The following list breaks down different types of electrical drafters and their corresponding salaries.

Type of Electrical Drafter	Description	Hourly rate
Electrical Drafter	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.	$19-31
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
Architectural Internship	The job of architectural interns is to assist an architect with all aspects of architectural work. Their duties and responsibilities may include maintaining project files, conducting research on construction sites such as zoning laws and regulations, and preparing presentations for clients... Show more	$19-33

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Autocad Electrical
- Revit
- Design Software
- Aided Design
- Panel Layouts
- MEP
- Electrical Drawings
- BIM
- Electrical Schematics
- Electrical Equipment
- Contract Positions
- Electrical Systems
- Engineering Drawings
- CAD Standards
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Manage database for PDF drawings and other electronic files.
- Create details of conduit racks to be produce using AutoCAD MEP and REVIT MEPCreate installation diagrams to be used for field installation
- Prepare and maintain BIM models.
- Run collision reports using NavisWorks to coordinate with 3D steel, HVAC, piping, fire protection and plumbing models.
- Used AutoCAD to create and modify, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and fire protection systems in various commercial buildings.
- Make sure files are then run on the CNC machine and parts are cut and send to fabricators to build project.
More electrical drafter duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your electrical drafter job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An electrical drafter salary can vary based on several factors:

Location. For example, electrical drafters' average salary in wyoming is 11% less than in delaware.
Seniority. Entry-level electrical drafters earn 39% less than senior-level electrical drafters.
Certifications. An electrical drafter with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an electrical drafter's salary.

Average electrical drafter salary

$52,027yearly

$25.01 hourly rate

Entry-level electrical drafter salary

$40,000 yearly salary

Updated December 31, 2025

Average electrical drafter salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	District of Columbia	$53,858	$26
2	Virginia	$53,747	$26
3	Pennsylvania	$53,506	$26
4	New York	$53,457	$26
5	New Jersey	$53,279	$26
6	California	$52,599	$25
7	Ohio	$51,728	$25
8	Florida	$50,881	$24
9	Wisconsin	$50,345	$24
10	Illinois	$50,310	$24
11	Arizona	$50,124	$24
12	Texas	$50,017	$24
13	Tennessee	$49,042	$24
14	Georgia	$49,008	$24
15	Oklahoma	$48,661	$23
16	Kansas	$48,395	$23

Average electrical drafter salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	Stantec	$59,343	$28.53	271
2	Lockheed Martin	$56,528	$27.18	84
3	ESPO	$52,616	$25.30
4	Sargent & Lundy	$52,556	$25.27	627
5	Outrider	$52,408	$25.20
6	Altran Corporation	$51,381	$24.70
7	Randstad North America, Inc.	$51,254	$24.64
8	Kelly Services	$51,159	$24.60	20
9	System One	$50,743	$24.40	25
10	Protingent	$50,556	$24.31	13
11	Aerotek	$49,835	$23.96	51
12	City Light & Power	$47,718	$22.94	12

Writing an electrical drafter job description
An electrical drafter 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 an electrical drafter job description:
Electrical drafter job description example
A successful candidate will perform electrical physical and protection & controls drafting on various substation projects from 69kV up to 500kV, renewable & electrical distribution systems.

Responsibilities include:
- Following engineering markups to develop Substation layout drawings including, plan and elevations, yard layouts, grounding, grounding details, raceway, raceway details, control building layouts, cable lists, and material lists on new and existing substations.
- Following engineering markups to develop Substation one lines, three lines, Aux AC Power Systems, DC Power Systems, AC & DC Schematics, SCADA and Communications Systems, Relay Panel Layouts, Equipment Wiring, and Cable Schedules for new and existing substations.
- Work under mentorship/supervision of engineers to prepare equipment specifications, for substation equipment, components, and construction.
Minimum Qualifications
- Diploma in Electrical Technology.
- Three (3) to six (6) years of experience in substation drafting with combination of Physical Electrical and P&C.
- Strong knowledge of CAD standards.
- Ability to understand & follow client Standards.
- Commitment to driving strong business performance, continuous improvement, and best practices.
- Experience in AutoCAD & MicroStation.
- Experience in AutoCAD Electric will be considered as an asset.
At Gannett Fleming, we believe in improving the lives of the people we serve. We believe in innovation and social responsibility. We believe in the diversity of our team and the creative solutions they provide. We believe in embracing change and emerging technologies while maintaining an unmatched standard of quality. We believe in creating an environment where employees can thrive at home and at work. We believe in engaging our employees, building lasting relationships with our clients, and, in turn, making a difference in the world.

We offer a comprehensive benefits program, which includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance, our tax-deferred 401 (K) savings plan, and the opportunity to incentive compensation for eligible positions. We are committed to your personal growth and professional development, so we offer tuition reimbursement, access to internal and external training programs and support active participation in professional organizations.

Gannett Fleming is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans' status or other characteristics protected by law.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE : Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will not be accepted.

Location:St. Louis, MO

Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Post your job
There are various strategies that you can use to find the right electrical drafter for your business:
- Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
- Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
- Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
- Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
Post your job online:
- Post your electrical drafter job on Zippia to find and recruit electrical drafter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
During your first interview to recruit electrical drafters, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.
It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new electrical drafter
Once you have selected a candidate for the electrical drafter position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.
It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.
To prepare for the new electrical drafter 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.
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.)
Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire an electrical drafter?

There are different types of costs for hiring electrical drafters. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new electrical drafter employee.

You can expect to pay around $52,027 per year for an electrical drafter, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for electrical drafters in the US typically range between $19 and $31 an hour.

Find better electrical drafters in less time

Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring electrical drafters FAQs

How much does a good electrical drafter cost?

What are the duties of an electrical drafter?

Should I hire an electrical drafter with no experience?

Search for electrical drafter jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Updated December 31, 2025

Browse architecture and engineering jobs

How to hire an electrical drafter