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Electrical and Electronics Drafters: Job Description
Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.
The Daily Work of Electrical and Electronics Drafters Do?
Typical responsibilities of electrical and electronics drafters cover:
- Draft detail and assembly drawings of design components, circuitry or printed circuit boards, using computer-assisted equipment or standard drafting techniques and devices.
- Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications, or cross-sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew.
- Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets to be checked by an engineer or an architect.
- Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations.
- Consult with engineers to discuss or interpret design concepts, or determine requirements of detailed working drawings.
- Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
- Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as distances to be spanned by wire and cable.
- Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
Skills and Knowledge
Top electrical and electronics drafters combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Electrical and Electronics Drafters Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Analog Design Engineer
- Analog Integrated Circuits Design Engineer (Analog IC Design Engineer)
- AutoCAD Drafter
- AutoCAD Technician
- CAD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design Drafter)
- CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman)
- CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Drafter)
- Circuit Board Drafter
How Many Electrical and Electronics Drafters Are There?
The U.S. employs around 144,118 electrical and electronics drafters working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +12.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Electrical and Electronics Drafters Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $109,781 |
| Hourly median | $52.78 |
| 10th percentile | $73,615 |
| 25th percentile | $91,698 |
| 75th percentile | $127,864 |
| 90th percentile | $145,947 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $101,680 |
| Massachusetts | $90,820 |
| New Mexico | $88,790 |
| New York | $88,090 |
| Idaho | $81,730 |
| Missouri | $80,720 |
| Ohio | $80,420 |
| New Jersey | $79,420 |
| Tennessee | $77,590 |
| Iowa | $77,050 |
| Georgia | $76,830 |
| North Carolina | $76,540 |
| California | $76,410 |
| Kansas | $75,760 |
| Oregon | $75,650 |
| Minnesota | $74,880 |
| Wisconsin | $73,530 |
| Maryland | $73,230 |
| Maine | $71,070 |
| Virginia | $70,180 |
| Oklahoma | $70,180 |
| South Carolina | $69,280 |
| Washington | $68,580 |
| Colorado | $68,290 |
| Kentucky | $66,960 |
| Illinois | $66,950 |
| Nevada | $66,560 |
| Texas | $65,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,610 |
| Arizona | $65,220 |
| Florida | $65,100 |
| Connecticut | $65,080 |
| Indiana | $64,200 |
| Utah | $64,200 |
| Delaware | $62,440 |
| Michigan | $62,350 |
| Arkansas | $61,920 |
| Mississippi | $61,520 |
| Nebraska | $60,990 |
| Hawaii | $60,020 |
| Louisiana | $55,240 |
| South Dakota | $55,160 |
| Alabama | $53,490 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,090 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for electrical and electronics drafters vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $81,687 | 6.8% | 1.71 |
| Middle Atlantic | $77,580 | 11.8% | 0.84 |
| Plains States | $74,287 | 7.3% | 1.14 |
| Far Western US | $73,165 | 20.9% | 1.27 |
| Great Lakes | $71,902 | 11.3% | 0.94 |
| Southwest | $68,332 | 18.6% | 1.54 |
| Southeast | $68,288 | 18.1% | 0.79 |
| Rocky Mountains | $67,984 | 5.3% | 1.82 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $117,570 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $104,560 | 810 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | NH | $102,050 | 150 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $101,700 | 430 |
| Worcester, MA | MA | $99,380 | 130 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | PA | $98,130 | 40 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $97,180 | 100 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $96,580 | 80 |
Top Industries Employing Electrical and Electronics Drafters
The largest employers of electrical and electronics drafters work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6,690 | $74,840 |
| Manufacturing | 4,330 | $68,580 |
| Construction | 3,850 | $69,780 |
| Utilities | 2,600 | $90,820 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 800 | $61,640 |
| Wholesale Trade | 540 | $60,330 |
| Information | 450 | $65,380 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 290 | $80,780 |
Electrical and Electronics Drafters work in the following industries:
Software Electrical and Electronics Drafters Use
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for electrical and electronics drafters is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Most electrical and electronics drafters positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Computer Hardware Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electrical Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Primary-Short)
- Industrial Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechatronics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Architectural and Civil Drafters (Primary-Short)
- Mechanical Drafters (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring electrical and electronics drafters commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
7 programs across 3 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters).
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