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What is a patent drafter and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a patent drafter. For example, did you know that they make an average of $26.83 an hour? That's $55,801 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -3% and produce -6,700 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScorePatent DrafterUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $55,801

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.3

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 7.02%

Black or African American 3.09%

Hispanic or Latino 11.66%

Unknown 5.20%

White 72.33%

Gender

female 0.00%

male 100.00%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress level
4.3

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a patent drafter

  1. Explore patent drafter education requirements

    Most common patent drafter degrees

    Bachelor's

    60.0 %

    Associate

    20.0 %

    High School Diploma

    10.0 %
  2. Complete relevant patent drafter training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 4-10 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New patent drafters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a patent drafter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real patent drafter resumes.
  3. Research patent drafter duties and responsibilities

    • Complete dimensional documentation, BOM, structural frame welding and assembly documentation.
    • Update stock plans as necessary according to AMDA standards.
  4. Prepare your patent drafter resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your patent drafter resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a patent drafter resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable patent drafter resume templates

    Build a professional patent drafter resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your patent drafter resume.
    Patent Drafter Resume
    Patent Drafter Resume
    Patent Drafter Resume
    Patent Drafter Resume
    Patent Drafter Resume
    Patent Drafter Resume
    Patent Drafter Resume
    Patent Drafter Resume
    Patent Drafter Resume
  5. Apply for patent drafter jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a patent drafter job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first patent drafter job

Zippi

Are you a patent drafter?

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Average patent drafter salary

The average patent drafter salary in the United States is $55,801 per year or $27 per hour. Patent drafter salaries range between $39,000 and $78,000 per year.

Average patent drafter salary
$55,801 Yearly
$26.83 hourly

What am I worth?

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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