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.
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What Do Electrical and Electronics Drafters Take On?
Typical responsibilities of electrical and electronics drafters span:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective electrical and electronics drafters draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Electrical and Electronics Drafters Jobs
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
Employment and Demand
There are about 144,118 electrical and electronics drafters working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +12.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Electrical and Electronics Drafters
| 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 |
Compensation varies 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 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of electrical and electronics drafters are found across 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:
Tools and Technology
- 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 on-the-job environment of electrical and electronics drafters reflects 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
How to Become Electrical and Electronics Drafters
Typical electrical and electronics drafters positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
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)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future electrical and electronics drafters commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
7 programs across 3 majors
References
This profile draws on 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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