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Engineering

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 salary

$64,280

Typical range

$44k – $98k

Job outlook

+4% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Architectural and Civil Drafters

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Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Architectural and Civil Drafters

    Entry / Junior

    $44,040

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Architectural and Civil Drafters

    Established

    $64,280

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Architectural and Civil Drafters

    Senior

    $81,235

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Engineering

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