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The differences between structural drafters and structural designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a structural drafter, becoming a structural designer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a structural designer has an average salary of $63,273, which is higher than the $48,536 average annual salary of a structural drafter.
The top three skills for a structural drafter include revit, shop drawings and structural drawings. The most important skills for a structural designer are revit, structural design, and BIM.
| Structural Drafter | Structural Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $48,536 | $63,273 |
| Hourly rate | $23.33 | $30.42 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 4,685 | 51,432 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
A structural drafter creates technical drawings, plans, and cost estimations. They prepare guidelines and for building bridges, lodges, and manufacturing plants. They typically work for construction companies, transportation firms, or manufacturing firms. They prepare drafts, present them to clients, and complete any revisions requested.
A Structural Designer designs, develops, and supervises the construction of new buildings and bridges, or extensions to existing properties or other structures. They review and update construction drawings as well as communicate project problems and flaws to managers.
Structural drafters and structural designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Structural Drafter | Structural Designer | |
| Average salary | $48,536 | $63,273 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $64,000 | Between $47,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | Tesla |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Construction |
There are a few differences between a structural drafter and a structural designer in terms of educational background:
| Structural Drafter | Structural Designer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between structural drafters' and structural designers' demographics:
| Structural Drafter | Structural Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.9% Female, 21.1% | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.8% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |