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Tool design drafter vs drafting engineer

The differences between tool design drafters and drafting engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a tool design drafter and a drafting engineer. Additionally, a tool design drafter has an average salary of $60,965, which is higher than the $50,871 average annual salary of a drafting engineer.

The top three skills for a tool design drafter include CAD, engineering drawings and autocad. The most important skills for a drafting engineer are production drawings, engineering drawings, and auto cad.

Tool design drafter vs drafting engineer overview

Tool Design DrafterDrafting Engineer
Yearly salary$60,965$50,871
Hourly rate$29.31$24.46
Growth rate-3%-3%
Number of jobs45,6728,823
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 70%Associate Degree, 45%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Tool design drafter vs drafting engineer salary

Tool design drafters and drafting engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Tool Design DrafterDrafting Engineer
Average salary$60,965$50,871
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $84,000Between $36,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City-Union City, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Huitt-Zollars
Best paying industry-Utilities

Differences between tool design drafter and drafting engineer education

There are a few differences between a tool design drafter and a drafting engineer in terms of educational background:

Tool Design DrafterDrafting Engineer
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 70%Associate Degree, 45%
Most common majorDrafting And DesignDrafting And Design
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Tool design drafter vs drafting engineer demographics

Here are the differences between tool design drafters' and drafting engineers' demographics:

Tool Design DrafterDrafting Engineer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 86.5% Female, 13.5%Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0%
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 tool design drafter and drafting engineer duties and responsibilities

Tool design drafter example responsibilities.

  • Manage the ECN process by assigning the highest priority requests through coordination between engineering staff and drafting personnel.
  • Transfer data electronically and manipulate product data files in Unigraphics NX9.
  • Assist engineers with ECOs and ECRs occasionally.
  • Use ACAD to create/modify installation diagrams for manufacturing.

Drafting engineer example responsibilities.

  • Install and test PLC in client own equipment on site - solve some logical and hardware issues to accomplish goal
  • Add ECO's revision notations.
  • Issue bill of material (BOM) for assemble parts.
  • Set up first runs for new parts and troubleshot new part CNC programs.
  • Coordinate with various GIS /FIS professionals to resolve field changes and/or field-to-map discrepancies.
  • Select as part of BCA evaluation team to implement CATIA for engineering digital design.
  • Show more

Tool design drafter vs drafting engineer skills

Common tool design drafter skills
  • CAD, 51%
  • Engineering Drawings, 39%
  • Autocad, 10%
Common drafting engineer skills
  • Production Drawings, 6%
  • Engineering Drawings, 6%
  • Auto CAD, 5%
  • As-Built Drawings, 5%
  • Shop Drawings, 5%
  • Architectural Drawings, 5%

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