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The differences between structural drafters and structures engineers 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 structures engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a structures engineer has an average salary of $73,391, 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 structures engineer are structural analysis, revit, and RISA.
| Structural Drafter | Structures Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $48,536 | $73,391 |
| Hourly rate | $23.33 | $35.28 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 4,685 | 20,778 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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 structures engineer works in designing, planning, and overseeing the development of the latest buildings and bridges or modifications and extensions to an existing property or other structures. They are mainly concerned with the safety and capability of the structure to withstand the elements to which they will be exposed--also improving the existing building structural integrity. Part of the task is inspecting properties regarding the conditions/foundation and checking work undertaken by contractors. The job is very similarly related to a civil engineer.
Structural drafters and structures engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Structural Drafter | Structures Engineer | |
| Average salary | $48,536 | $73,391 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $64,000 | Between $54,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a structural drafter and a structures engineer in terms of educational background:
| Structural Drafter | Structures Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between structural drafters' and structures engineers' demographics:
| Structural Drafter | Structures Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.9% Female, 21.1% | Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1% |
| 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, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.3% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |