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Electrical systems drafter vs drafting engineer

The differences between electrical systems drafters and drafting engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an electrical systems drafter and a drafting engineer. Additionally, an electrical systems drafter has an average salary of $57,638, which is higher than the $50,871 average annual salary of a drafting engineer.

The top three skills for an electrical systems drafter include CAD, autocad and layout drawings. The most important skills for a drafting engineer are production drawings, engineering drawings, and auto cad.

Electrical systems drafter vs drafting engineer overview

Electrical Systems DrafterDrafting Engineer
Yearly salary$57,638$50,871
Hourly rate$27.71$24.46
Growth rate-3%-3%
Number of jobs85,6328,823
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Associate Degree, 45%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Electrical systems drafter vs drafting engineer salary

Electrical systems drafters and drafting engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Electrical Systems DrafterDrafting Engineer
Average salary$57,638$50,871
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $78,000Between $36,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City-Union City, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Huitt-Zollars
Best paying industry-Utilities

Differences between electrical systems drafter and drafting engineer education

There are a few differences between an electrical systems drafter and a drafting engineer in terms of educational background:

Electrical Systems DrafterDrafting Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Associate Degree, 45%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyDrafting And Design
Most common collegeLeTourneau UniversityNorthwestern University

Electrical systems drafter vs drafting engineer demographics

Here are the differences between electrical systems drafters' and drafting engineers' demographics:

Electrical Systems DrafterDrafting Engineer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 94.4% Female, 5.6%Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 3.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between electrical systems drafter and drafting engineer duties and responsibilities

Electrical systems drafter example responsibilities.

  • Manage the ECN process by assigning the highest priority requests through coordination between engineering staff and drafting personnel.
  • Develop, organize and maintain AutoCAD standards for designers to use resulting in efficient production and time management.
  • Design in Solidworks and fabricate components.

Drafting engineer example responsibilities.

  • Install and test PLC in client own equipment on site - solve some logical and hardware issues to accomplish goal
  • Add ECO's revision notations.
  • Issue bill of material (BOM) for assemble parts.
  • Set up first runs for new parts and troubleshot new part CNC programs.
  • Coordinate with various GIS /FIS professionals to resolve field changes and/or field-to-map discrepancies.
  • Select as part of BCA evaluation team to implement CATIA for engineering digital design.
  • Show more

Electrical systems drafter vs drafting engineer skills

Common electrical systems drafter skills
  • CAD, 52%
  • Autocad, 31%
  • Layout Drawings, 9%
  • HVAC, 8%
Common drafting engineer skills
  • Production Drawings, 6%
  • Engineering Drawings, 6%
  • Auto CAD, 5%
  • As-Built Drawings, 5%
  • Shop Drawings, 5%
  • Architectural Drawings, 5%

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