Mechanical Drafters
Architecture and ConstructionO*NET 17-3013.00United States
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.
- Median annual earnings
- $70,034
- Projected change
- −2.5%
- Typical education
- Associate degree
- Employment
- 41.94K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
61.3% of the workforce
Growing to 40.89K by 2035
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The work
What mechanical drafters do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.
- Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
- Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
- Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
- Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials.
- 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.
- Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment.
- Position instructions and comments onto drawings.
- Confer with customer representatives to review schematics and answer questions pertaining to installation of systems.
- 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.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $46,038
- 25th percentile
- $56,165
- 50th percentile
- $70,034
- 75th percentile
- $85,987
- 90th percentile
- $110,777
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $70,034 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
−2.5%projected to decline
202541,937 jobs
2035 projected40,894 jobs
1,043 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Associate degree
- 61.3%
- Bachelor's degree
- 20.3%
- Certificate
- 8%
- Some college
- 7.5%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 2.9%
- Doctoral degree or more
- 0.1%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Technology Design
- Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Drafters970 postings
- 02Mechanical Designers760 postings
- 03Piping Designers630 postings
- 04Mechanical Drafters523 postings
- 05AutoCAD Drafters183 postings
- 06Mechanical Piping Designers141 postings
- 07Lead Piping Designers123 postings
- 08Drafting Technicians81 postings
- 09Engineering Technicians78 postings
- 10Process Piping Designers72 postings
- 11Piping Drafters71 postings
- 12Designers57 postings
- 13CAD Operators46 postings
- 14Revit Technicians46 postings
- 15BIM Technicians40 postings
- 16Plumbing Designers38 postings
- 17CADD Technicians35 postings
- 18Mechanical CAD Drafters32 postings
- 19Drafters/Detailers31 postings
- 20AutoCAD Technicians24 postings
Top employers
- 01Actalent537 postings
- 02GPAC325 postings
- 03Jacobs Solutions60 postings
- 04Insight Global57 postings
- 05Entegee45 postings
- 06System One45 postings
- 07Belcan29 postings
- 08ManpowerGroup29 postings
- 09Pts Advance28 postings
- 10WSP Global26 postings
- 11Hargrove & Associates25 postings
- 12KBR25 postings
- 13The Planet Group25 postings
- 14Kiewit Corporation23 postings
- 15Randstad23 postings
- 16Cavco Industries22 postings
- 17TechniPower19 postings
- 18Acuren Inspection18 postings
- 19Eaton Corporation18 postings
- 20Hargrove Engineers + Constructors17 postings
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