Architectural and Civil Drafters
What Architectural and Civil Drafters Do
Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 0.7%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 3 of 5Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Job training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Designimportance 4.3/5
- Building and Constructionimportance 4.3/5
- Engineering and Technologyimportance 4.2/5
- English Languageimportance 3.8/5
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.8/5
- Mathematicsimportance 3.6/5
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 3.1/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 3.0/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- E-Mail4.9/5
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.9/5
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.7/5
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.6/5
- Spend Time Sitting4.5/5
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.5/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Medical Dosimetrists97% skill match
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters97% skill match
- Neurologists96% skill match
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary96% skill match
- Physician Assistants96% skill match
- Archivists96% skill match
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary96% skill match
- Social Science Research Assistants96% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.5/5
- Systems Analysisimportance 3.5/5
- Time Managementimportance 3.3/5
- Coordinationimportance 3.1/5
- Instructingimportance 3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.1/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.0/5
- Service Orientationimportance 2.9/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
In-Demand Technologies
- Autodesk Navisworks
- McNeel Rhinoceros 3D
Other Software Used
- 100 Plus Hatch Pattern Library
- ARCOM Masterspec
- Adobe LiveMotion
- Alias Wavefront Design Studio
- Animation software
- AutoDesSys form Z
- Autodesk 3d Studio Viz
- Autodesk 3ds Max
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Achievement Orientation
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Perseverance
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- ArtisticMedium
- InvestigativeMedium
- SocialLow
- EnterprisingLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where architectural and civil drafters make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Fort Collins-Loveland, CO3.13× national avg
- 2Bozeman, MT3.03× national avg
- 3Helena, MT2.92× national avg
- 4Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR2.73× national avg
- 5Billings, MT2.15× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Electrical and Electronics DraftersLateral Move
- Database ArchitectsCareer Change
- Financial ExaminersCareer Change
- Medical DosimetristsCareer Change
See the full career path from Architectural and Civil Drafters →
Related Education Programs
Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.
Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology
- Columbia University in the City of New York (New York, NY)grads earn ~$83,355
- University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)grads earn ~$78,883
- University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
- Florida International University (Miami, FL)
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)grads earn ~$78,083
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- Purdue University-Main Campus (West Lafayette, IN)grads earn ~$97,594
- University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS)grads earn ~$82,848
- Pikes Peak State College (Colorado Springs, CO)
- Purdue University-Main Campus (West Lafayette, IN)grads earn ~$110,606
- Brigham Young University-Idaho (Rexburg, ID)