compare.careers

Engineering and architecture

Drafters, all other

All drafters not listed separately.

Median pay

$63,520

Growth to 2035

−7%

declining

Openings a year

1,000

Time to qualify*

2 years

* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.

Pay

Drafters, all other

$63,52010% earn under $43,420 · middle half $51,650–$79,700 · top 10% over $99,380
Bar: middle 50% of workers. Line: 10th to 90th percentile. Dot: median. BLS OEWS, May 2025, national.

Getting in

Typical entry education
Associate's degree
On-the-job training
None
Prior experience
None

Calculate your switch to drafters, all other

What the work is like

Drafters, all other

Dealing with the public

Rarely
Constantly

Time pressure

Rarely
Constantly

Freedom to make decisions

Little
A lot
Average worker ratings, 1 to 5. O*NET 31.0 work context survey.

Core tasks

Outlook and AI

Drafters, all other held 15,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 14,100 by 2035 (−7%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).

Productivity change - share decreases as advanced CAD software allows design professionals to perform tasks more efficiently.

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