What Do Civil Drafter Do?
Job Description & Duties 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?
- Supervise or conduct field surveys, inspections, or technical investigations to obtain data required to revise construction drawings.
- Determine quality, cost, strength, and quantity of required materials, and enter figures on materials lists.
- Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
- Locate and identify symbols on topographical surveys to denote geological and geophysical formations or oil field installations.
- Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
- Correlate, interpret, and modify data obtained from topographical surveys, well logs, and geophysical prospecting reports.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Civil Drafter?
Civil Drafters state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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 Drafter
- Structural Designer
- Civil Engineering Designer
- Directional Survey Drafter
- Civil Designer
Job Demand for Civil Drafters
There were about 99,600 jobs for Civil Drafter in 2016 (in the United States). 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. There will be an estimated 9,500 positions for Civil Drafter per 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 average yearly salary of a Civil Drafter ranges 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 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
Becoming a Civil Drafter
Individuals working as a Civil Drafter have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Civil Drafter?

Civil Drafters Sector

Civil Drafters work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Civil Drafter might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Pixabay via CC0 License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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