Engineering and architecture
Architectural and civil drafters
Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.
Median pay
$66,150
Growth to 2035
+5%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
9,100
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Architectural and civil drafters
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Architectural and civil drafters: 26% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
- Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
- Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.
- Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
- Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.
- Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to compile measurements as necessary.
- Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
- Represent architect or engineer on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design specifications and advising on design corrections, under supervision.
Also called: Architectural Designer · Architectural Drafter · Architectural Draftsman · CAD Designer (Computer-Aided Design Designer) · CAD Tech (Computer-Aided Design Technician) · CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Drafter) · Civil Drafter · Drafting Technician (Drafting Tech)
Outlook and AI
Architectural and civil drafters held 104,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 109,500 by 2035 (+5%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Architectural and civil drafters vs. Mechanical drafter
- Architectural and civil drafters vs. Electrical and electronics drafters
- Architectural and civil drafters vs. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Architectural and civil drafters vs. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Architectural and civil drafters vs. Architectural and engineering managers
- Architectural and civil drafters vs. Civil engineer
- Architectural and civil drafters vs. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Architectural and civil drafters vs. Layout workers, metal and plastic
- Architectural and civil drafters vs. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Architectural and civil drafters vs. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians