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Plumbing drafter vs design drafter

The differences between plumbing drafters and design drafters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a plumbing drafter and a design drafter. Additionally, a plumbing drafter has an average salary of $51,774, which is higher than the $50,021 average annual salary of a design drafter.

The top three skills for a plumbing drafter include plumbing, HVAC and revit. The most important skills for a design drafter are layout drawings, auto cad, and engineering drawings.

Plumbing drafter vs design drafter overview

Plumbing DrafterDesign Drafter
Yearly salary$51,774$50,021
Hourly rate$24.89$24.05
Growth rate-3%-3%
Number of jobs3,22739,125
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 74%Associate Degree, 56%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Plumbing drafter vs design drafter salary

Plumbing drafters and design drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Plumbing DrafterDesign Drafter
Average salary$51,774$50,021
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $69,000Between $37,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City-Cupertino, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between plumbing drafter and design drafter education

There are a few differences between a plumbing drafter and a design drafter in terms of educational background:

Plumbing DrafterDesign Drafter
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 74%Associate Degree, 56%
Most common majorDrafting And DesignDrafting And Design
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityLeTourneau University

Plumbing drafter vs design drafter demographics

Here are the differences between plumbing drafters' and design drafters' demographics:

Plumbing DrafterDesign Drafter
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 82.9% Female, 17.1%Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9%
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 plumbing drafter and design drafter duties and responsibilities

Plumbing drafter example responsibilities.

  • Draft drawings on computer of the HVAC.
  • Create all require drawings necessary to the complete construction installation of the plumbing system in commercial buildings new and remodels.
  • Complete dimensional documentation, BOM, structural frame welding and assembly documentation.
  • Input bearings and points using LDD software.

Design drafter example responsibilities.

  • Manage the ECN process by assigning the highest priority requests through coordination between engineering staff and drafting personnel.
  • Use Windchill for file management.
  • Develop pattern REVIT families for retail fixture manufactures.
  • Assist with implementation of Revit as main drawing application.
  • Draft and design mechanical and electrical windows for aircraft and yachts.
  • Work on plant location to sketch isometric drawings used for pressure analysis.
  • Show more

Plumbing drafter vs design drafter skills

Common plumbing drafter skills
  • Plumbing, 43%
  • HVAC, 21%
  • Revit, 19%
  • Engineering Drawings, 14%
  • Fire Protection, 3%
Common design drafter skills
  • Layout Drawings, 10%
  • Auto CAD, 6%
  • Engineering Drawings, 5%
  • Aided Design, 5%
  • Assembly Drawings, 5%
  • Revit, 4%

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