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The differences between mechanical design 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 a mechanical design drafter and a drafting engineer. Additionally, a mechanical design drafter has an average salary of $58,371, which is higher than the $50,871 average annual salary of a drafting engineer.
The top three skills for a mechanical design drafter include design layouts, creo and assembly drawings. The most important skills for a drafting engineer are production drawings, engineering drawings, and auto cad.
| Mechanical Design Drafter | Drafting Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $58,371 | $50,871 |
| Hourly rate | $28.06 | $24.46 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 54,189 | 8,823 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Mechanical design drafter develops detailed mechanical equipment designs and specifications needed for assembly and modifies them to repair defects and to minimize problems in the production. He/she often works with architects and engineers either in an office or via job sites with hands-on experience in computer-aided design (CAD) software and building processes, visual aptitude, and mathematical skills. However, the demand for drafters tempered as CAD and building information modeling (BIM) technologies allows architects and engineers to perform tasks that are usually done by a mechanical design drafter.
A Drafting Engineer designs and draws the blueprints needed to bring new concepts and products to life. There are three major types of drafting positions: mechanical drafters, electrical and electronics drafters, and architectural and civil drafters.
Mechanical design drafters and drafting engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Design Drafter | Drafting Engineer | |
| Average salary | $58,371 | $50,871 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $75,000 | Between $36,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Union City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Salt River Project | Huitt-Zollars |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a mechanical design drafter and a drafting engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Design Drafter | Drafting Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between mechanical design drafters' and drafting engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Design Drafter | Drafting Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| 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, 3.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |