Electrical Drafter Career
Electrical drafters develop diagrams that a construction worker can refer to when installing or repairing electrical wiring. They often work closely with engineers and architects to create blueprints. The work they do deals primarily with electrical wiring and repair for residential homes, commercial businesses, public buildings, and much more.
A career in electrical drafting would be a good fit for anyone who enjoys studying the technical side of how different electronics and wiring systems work.
Electrical Drafter Career Snapshot
Further details on a career as a electrical drafter are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average yearly salary for electrical drafters.
decline in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a Post-secondary certificate while 21% have a Bachelor’s degree.
Electrical Drafter Education
Electrical drafters usually earn an associate’s degree in drafting (often with an emphasis on one particular type: electrical, mechanical, architectural, etc.) Drafters work with computers on a daily basis and as such must be confident in using computer design software. It can also be helpful to be able to sketch out plans by hand. A strong familiarity with computers and electronic equipment is also necessary.
Electrical Drafter Job Duties
Electrical drafters work to develop technical diagrams (usually using computer software) that reflect the architect or engineer’s design plans. The diagrams are then used for construction and wiring of electronics and buildings.
Electrical Drafter Salaries
According to the BLS.gov as of 2015, the median annual wage for electrical drafters was about $59,520 (higher than that of any other drafting field). The lowest 10% made about $33,590, while the highest 10% made about $83,350.
Electrical Drafter Job Outlook
Although the job outlook for drafters as a whole is on the decline because of low demand and high job competition, drafters who specialize in electrical wiring and electronics have the best job outlook. Electrical drafters are expected to have a 5% growth between 2014 and 2024 (a little below average). Those who are well-versed in computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modeling (BIM) are expected to have better luck in securing jobs.
Electrical Drafter Skills & Traits
| Electrical Drafter Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by Electrical Drafters: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Reading Comprehension • Active Listening • Speaking • Writing • Critical Thinking | • Oral Comprehension • Oral Expression • Written Comprehension • Near Vision • Problem Sensitivity | • Compasses • Drafting kits or sets • Protractors • Rulers • Triangles | • Working with Computers • Getting Information • Drafting • Communicating with Others • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work |
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