Mechanical Drafters
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.
Also called: CAD Designer (Computer Aided Design Designer) · CAD Operator (Computer Aided Design Operator) · Design Drafter · Drafter · Drafting Technician · Mechanical Designer
Median pay (national)
$68,510
$46,500–$107,600 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
39,900
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-6.5%
~3,300 openings/yr
Typical entry
Associate's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for mechanical drafters shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $107,600 versus $46,500 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $68,510 leaves roughly 57% 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 -6.5% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 3,300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 49 states with released data, New Mexico pays the most for this role (median $85,220, +24% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $49,310 — a 73% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Mathematics 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 Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Navisworks, Autodesk Revit 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
- Active Listening
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Speaking
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
- Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components.
- Coordinate with and consult other workers to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems.
- Position instructions and comments onto drawings.
- Supervise and train other drafters, technologists, and technicians.
- Lay out, draw, and reproduce illustrations for reference manuals and technical publications to describe operation and maintenance of mechanical systems.
- Draw freehand sketches of designs, trace finished drawings onto designated paper for the reproduction of blueprints, and reproduce working drawings on copy machines.
- Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.
- Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
Tools & technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk Inventor
- Autodesk Navisworks
- Autodesk Revit
- Bentley MicroStation
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- NavisWorks Jetstream
- Adobe After Effects
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Extensible markup language XML
Knowledge areas
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Physics
- Computers and Electronics
- Production and Processing