Career Overview
Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.
Also Known As
- Computer-Aided Design Operator
- Drafter
- Electrical Designer
- Staking Technician (Staking Tech)
Alternate Job Titles
- 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
- Circuit Designer
- Computer-Aided Design Designer (CAD Designer)
- Computer-Aided Design Operator
- Computer-Aided Design Technician (CAD Tech)
- Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Designer
- Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Operator
- Design Drafter
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Administrative
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Visualization
- Speech Recognition
- Information Ordering
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Clarity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Achievement Orientation
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Independence
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk Revit
- Bentley MicroStation
- C
- C++
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Linux
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
Tools & Equipment
- Compasses
- Desktop computers
- Dividers
- Drafting curves
- Drafting machines
- Drafting triangles
- Personal computers
- Protractors
- Steel rules
- T-squares
Work Environment
- 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
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $48,680 |
| Median | $73,720 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $110,180 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 20,020
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Mechanical Drafters
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $68,510
Architectural and Civil Drafters
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $64,280
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $77,180
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $127,590
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $68,730
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.