Mechanical draftsman vs mechanical engineer

The differences between mechanical draftsmen and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a mechanical draftsman, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $40,926 average annual salary of a mechanical draftsman.

The top three skills for a mechanical draftsman include auto cad, assembly drawings and HVAC. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.

Mechanical draftsman vs mechanical engineer overview

	Mechanical Draftsman	Mechanical Engineer
Yearly salary	$40,926	$75,352
Hourly rate	$19.68	$36.23
Growth rate	-3%	2%
Number of jobs	17,516	105,618
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age	45	41
Years of experience	4	6

Mechanical draftsman vs mechanical engineer salary

Mechanical draftsmen and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Mechanical Draftsman	Mechanical Engineer
Average salary	$40,926	$75,352
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $50,000	Between $58,000 And $97,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	Meta
Best paying industry	-	Energy

Differences between mechanical draftsman and mechanical engineer education

There are a few differences between a mechanical draftsman and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:

	Mechanical Draftsman	Mechanical Engineer
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common major	Drafting And Design	Mechanical Engineering
Most common college	Northwestern University	Michigan Technological University

Mechanical draftsman vs mechanical engineer demographics

Here are the differences between mechanical draftsmen' and mechanical engineers' demographics:

	Mechanical Draftsman	Mechanical Engineer
Average age	45	41
Gender ratio	Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9%	Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%
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, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage	6%	5%

Differences between mechanical draftsman and mechanical engineer duties and responsibilities

Mechanical draftsman example responsibilities.

Manage ECR and ECO packets to alter documentation specifications.
Manage document collation for field distribution of MEP plans to shop and field.
Manage and supervise other draftsmen.
Design, revise and update mechanical drawings for an automate trash baler, HVAC and conveyor systems.
Coordinate between MEP and prepare project deliverables.
Revise and update mechanical drawing and BOM as required.

Mechanical engineer example responsibilities.

Manage machine shop and Sr. Machinist/Toolmaker.
Lead the implementation of Syteline MRP software.
Manage component work orders and failure test scheduling to parts as per DFMEA with design team.
Use of PLM software tools such as WindChill to manage data, revisions, iterations and approvals.
Lead a brainstorming session for review with supplier & management and follow through the successful implementation of a corrective action.
Attain SolidWorks CSWP certification and maintaining proficiency within CREO & AutoCad

Mechanical draftsman vs mechanical engineer skills

Common mechanical draftsman skills

Auto CAD, 12%
Assembly Drawings, 8%
HVAC, 7%
R, 5%
Mechanical Drawings, 5%
BOM, 5%

Common mechanical engineer skills

CAD, 10%
Solidworks, 9%
Mechanical Systems, 6%
Mechanical Design, 5%
HVAC, 5%
Plumbing, 4%

Mechanical Draftsman vs. similar jobs

Mechanical Draftsman related careers

Mechanical Draftsman related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Architecture and Engineering Industry
Mechanical Draftsman
Mechanical Draftsman vs Mechanical Engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse architecture and engineering jobs