All About Civil Drafters

Example of Civil Drafter Job Prepare drawings and topographical and relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, pipelines, flood control projects, and water and sewerage control systems.

What Do Civil Drafters Do On a Daily Basis?

• Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
• Calculate weights, volumes, and stress factors and their implications for technical aspects of designs.
• Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
• Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
• Calculate excavation tonnage and prepare graphs and fill-hauling diagrams for use in earth-moving operations.
• Determine quality, cost, strength, and quantity of required materials, and enter figures on materials lists.

Things a Civil Drafter Should Know How to Do

Below is a list of the skills most Civil Drafters say are important on the job.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

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.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

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.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Drafter (CADD Drafter)
• Structural Designer
• CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman)
• Truss Designer
• Directional Survey Drafter

Are There Job Opportunities for Civil Drafters?

In the United States, there were 99,600 jobs for Civil Drafter in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 8,100 new jobs for Civil Drafter by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 9,500 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Civil Drafter are Utah, Nevada, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, West Virginia, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Civil Drafters Salary

The typical yearly salary for Civil Drafters is somewhere between $35,020 and $80,880.

Civil Drafters who work in District of Columbia, Illinois, or California, make the highest salaries.

How much do Civil Drafters make in each U.S. state?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$52,740
Alaska	$60,200
Arizona	$58,700
Arkansas	$45,500
California	$63,320
Colorado	$59,560
Connecticut	$64,390
Delaware	$52,830
District of Columbia	$68,330
Florida	$53,270
Georgia	$57,280
Hawaii	$54,520
Idaho	$48,710
Illinois	$64,720
Indiana	$54,080
Iowa	$55,490
Kansas	$50,500
Kentucky	$51,330
Louisiana	$56,390
Maine	$51,380
Maryland	$64,560
Massachusetts	$59,740
Michigan	$51,760
Minnesota	$54,300
Mississippi	$48,980
Missouri	$55,000
Montana	$46,020
Nebraska	$50,270
Nevada	$49,510
New Hampshire	$53,540
New Jersey	$58,840
New Mexico	$51,200
New York	$59,770
North Carolina	$53,160
North Dakota	$57,230
Ohio	$53,720
Oklahoma	$54,840
Oregon	$58,480
Pennsylvania	$52,320
Rhode Island	$58,190
South Carolina	$51,820
South Dakota	$43,090
Tennessee	$54,360
Texas	$56,120
Utah	$51,640
Vermont	$45,310
Virginia	$54,390
Washington	$58,170
West Virginia	$56,320
Wisconsin	$53,450
Wyoming	$53,050

What Tools & Technology do Civil Drafters Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Civil Drafters:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Project
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft Visio
• Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
• Extensible markup language XML
• Bentley Microstation
• PTC Creo Parametric
• ESRI ArcView
• Autodesk Revit
• Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
• Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
• Geomechanical design analysis GDA software
• Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects
• ESRI ArcGIS software

How do I Become a Civil Drafter?

Individuals working as a Civil Drafter have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Civil Drafter?

Where Civil Drafters Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those thinking about becoming a Civil Drafter might also be interested in the following careers:

• Geophysical Data Technicians

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Pixabay via CC0 License

More about our data sources and methodologies.