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Senior drafter vs architectural designer

The differences between senior drafters and architectural designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a senior drafter and an architectural designer. Additionally, an architectural designer has an average salary of $59,122, which is higher than the $44,988 average annual salary of a senior drafter.

The top three skills for a senior drafter include autocad, layout drawings and cad standards. The most important skills for an architectural designer are sketch, sketchup, and BIM.

Senior drafter vs architectural designer overview

Senior DrafterArchitectural Designer
Yearly salary$44,988$59,122
Hourly rate$21.63$28.42
Growth rate-3%-3%
Number of jobs3,18954,358
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

Senior drafter vs architectural designer salary

Senior drafters and architectural designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior DrafterArchitectural Designer
Average salary$44,988$59,122
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $60,000Between $45,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Vermont
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between senior drafter and architectural designer education

There are a few differences between a senior drafter and an architectural designer in terms of educational background:

Senior DrafterArchitectural Designer
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorDrafting And DesignArchitecture
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Senior drafter vs architectural designer demographics

Here are the differences between senior drafters' and architectural designers' demographics:

Senior DrafterArchitectural Designer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 75.4% Female, 24.6%Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between senior drafter and architectural designer duties and responsibilities

Senior drafter example responsibilities.

  • Manage the design history of 3D part models, assemblies, and drawings using PDM software.
  • Produce design and construction drawings electrical and HVAC departments for commercial and residential projects per applicable national codes and regulations.
  • Create BIM design from concept.
  • Detail and draft structures in Revit.
  • Maintain an engineering change notice (ECN) system.
  • Design HVAC and plumbing layouts on existing architectural xrefs.
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Architectural designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage in- house projects and AutoCAD drawings.
  • Manage design and coordinate construction of grind up, interior finish, conversions and remodel projects.
  • Lead the development of BIM modeling content for the architecture team as a direct report to the executive and lead architects.
  • Submit drawings to OSHPD for approval.
  • Submit & review OSHPD back check comments.
  • Participate in sustainable practices for leer certified projects.
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Senior drafter vs architectural designer skills

Common senior drafter skills
  • Autocad, 25%
  • Layout Drawings, 7%
  • CAD Standards, 5%
  • Engineering Drawings, 4%
  • Aided Design, 4%
  • Revit, 4%
Common architectural designer skills
  • Sketch, 15%
  • SketchUp, 7%
  • BIM, 6%
  • Architectural Design, 6%
  • Building Codes, 5%
  • Construction Drawings, 4%

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