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.
Also called: Architectural Designer · Architectural Drafter · Architectural Draftsman · Civil Drafter · Computer-Aided Design Designer (CAD Designer) · Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Drafter (CADD Drafter)
Median pay (national)
$64,280
$44,040–$98,190 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
109,550
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.1%
~10,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
Associate's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for architectural and civil drafters shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $98,190 versus $44,040 at the bottom 10% — 2.2x. The median of $64,280 leaves roughly 53% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.1% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 10,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $88,430, +38% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $35,300 — a 151% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Writing, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
- Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
- Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
- Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
- Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
- Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
- Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
- Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
- Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.
- Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.
Tools & technology
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Autodesk Navisworks
- Autodesk Revit
- Bentley MicroStation
- McNeel Rhinoceros 3D
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Trimble SketchUp Pro
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe InDesign
Knowledge areas
- Design
- Building and Construction
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management