Drafters make detailed drawings of objects that will be manufactured or built.
| Quick Facts: Drafters | |
|---|---|
| Wages | Earn $59,638 - $69,146 per year |
| Employment | Medium occupation |
| 10 Year Growth | Declining |
| Annual Openings | Moderate |
Preparation 
Preparation
The Preparation section describes the education, training, and experience you need to prepare for work in an occupation. This section covers the types of formal and informal training programs you should take. In addition, this topic covers the amount of experience you need to enter an occupation.
For more information see the Preparation topic.
A drafter typically needs to:
- have a high school diploma or equivalent
- have an associate degree
Working Conditions
Working Conditions
The Working Conditions section describes an occupation's characteristics. This section covers the conditions and settings that workers in an occupation are exposed to. This list also shows characteristics that a worker needs to do well in the occupation.
For more information see the Working Conditions topic.
In a typical work setting, drafters:
- Have a medium level of job-required social interaction. Drafters work with customers and coworkers.
- Almost always work indoors. May occasionally work outdoors to take measurements for buildings or utility systems.
- Must be sure jobs are done accurately and thoroughly. Errors could seriously endanger the users of structures or products.
- May work more than 40 hours a week to meet deadlines.
Wages
Wages
Multiple SOC version:
The Wage section gives you a sense of how much money workers earn in an occupation. Annual wage data appear for most occupations. The annual amount is based on working full time for 12 months.
Two types of information are given about wages--the median wage and the wage range. The median wage is represented by the line in the bar. The median wage is the amount above which half of all workers are paid and below which half of all workers are paid. This is similar to an average. The wage range from the 25% to the 75% is represented by the bar. The 25% means that one-quarter of workers in the occupation earn less than that amount. Similarly, one-quarter of workers in the occupation earn more than the 75%. Move your cursor over the bar to see the wage values.
For more information see the Wages topic.
In Illinois, drafters earn a median wage of $59,638 - $69,146 per year.
| $0 | $50 | $100 | $150 | $200 |
| Illinois |
$ amounts are in thousands of dollars.
Employment and Outlook
Employment and Outlook
The Employment and Outlook section gives you information about the size of an occupation, whether it is growing or declining in size, and how many job openings there may be each year.
There are five size categories for occupations in CIS: very small, small, medium, large, and very large. Similarly, five categories are used for the number of job openings: very few, few, moderate, high, and very high.
Five categories are also used for growth: declining, more slowly than average, average, faster than average, and much faster than average. The growth rate tells you how rapidly an occupation is expected to grow in comparison to all other occupations. This information is an estimate. No one can predict exactly how many jobs will be available. The rate of growth of an occupation is determined by several factors. A few major factors are the state of the economy, competition, technological advances, and environmental rules.
For more information see the Employment and Outlook topic.
In Illinois, 5,274 drafters work in this medium occupation.
| Location | Employment | 10 Year Growth | Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 5,274 Medium | -0.7% Declining | 491 Moderate |