| Drafters are responsible for creating technical | | | | environment with a 40 hour work week schedule, |
| drawings for various product designs and buildings, | | | | spending long periods of time on the computer |
| frequently using computer aided design and drafting | | | | working on drawings. Training will usually involve a |
| in order to create computer modeling. While pencil | | | | four year college education in a drafting program, |
| and paper were originally used for tracking projects, | | | | which will teach an individual mechanical drawing skills |
| images are now stored electronically with CADD | | | | and computer aided design techniques. Once drafters |
| systems, which is why these professionals are now | | | | start their educational training programs in a technical |
| called CADD operators. | | | | school and receive a two year certification, they may |
| Drafters will usually start constructing a project by | | | | then decide to further their education and obtain a |
| using rough specifications made by architects, | | | | full bachelor's degree after they have on the job |
| surveyors, and engineers, having many specialties | | | | experience. |
| which can include aeronautical, architectural, civil, | | | | In 2006, these professionals had about 250,000 jobs |
| electrical, mechanical, and pipeline. | | | | in America, with architectural and civil drafters having |
| Aeronautical workers are responsible for creating | | | | about 50% of the employment opportunities. About |
| designs for airplane parts and missiles, while | | | | a quarter of all of these individuals worked in |
| architectural drafters are responsible for creating | | | | manufacturing industries which can include |
| architectural designs for both residential and | | | | metalworking, and parts manufacturing. Only about |
| commercial structures. | | | | 5% of designers are self-employed. |
| Civil drafters will create plans for highways, bridges, | | | | The outlook for drafting design employment growth |
| and other public projects, while electrical ones will | | | | is expected to be fairly slow over the next 10 years, |
| prepare wiring layouts for power plants, commercial | | | | as computer aided digital design systems allows |
| buildings, and communications centers. | | | | fewer employees to accomplish more work. In 2006, |
| Mechanical drafters will create drawings for | | | | the middle 50th percentile of civil and architectural |
| mechanical devices that are commonly used in | | | | drafters made between $33,550 and $52,220, with |
| manufacturing processes, while pipeline designers will | | | | mechanical workers making between $34,680 and |
| draw the piping systems of chemical plants and oil | | | | $55,130. The middle 50% of electronics drawing |
| and gas refineries. | | | | workers made between $36,660 and $60,160. |
| Most drafters will work in a comfortable office | | | | |