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Electrical Drafter

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Life As an Electrical Drafter

Position Description Develop specifications and instructions for installation of voltage transformers, overhead or underground cables, and related electrical equipment used to conduct electrical energy from transmission lines or high-voltage distribution lines to consumers.

Life As an Electrical Drafter

  • Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations.
  • Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
  • Use computer-aided drafting equipment or conventional drafting stations, technical handbooks, tables, calculators, and traditional drafting tools, such as boards, pencils, protractors, and T-squares.
  • Supervise and train other technologists, technicians and drafters.
  • Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets which are checked by an engineer or an architect.
  • Draw master sketches to scale showing relation of proposed installations to existing facilities and exact specifications and dimensions.

What Every Electrical Drafter Should Know

Below is a list of the skills most Electrical Drafters say are important on the job.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

  • AutoCAD Technician
  • Estimator and Drafter Supervisor
  • Drafter
  • Electrical Drafter
  • CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman)

Are There Job Opportunities for Electrical Drafters?

There were about 27,400 jobs for Electrical Drafter in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,900 new jobs for Electrical Drafter by 2026. There will be an estimated 2,600 positions for Electrical Drafter per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Electrical Drafter are Nevada, Colorado, and Vermont. Watch out if you plan on working in Washington, Wyoming, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Electrical Drafters Make A Lot Of Money?

The average yearly salary of an Electrical Drafter ranges between $36,660 and $99,240.

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Electrical Drafters who work in District of Columbia, Washington, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.

How much do Electrical Drafters make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $55,550
Alaska $67,360
Arizona $63,790
Arkansas $60,730
California $76,420
Colorado $60,430
Connecticut $58,250
Delaware $65,480
District of Columbia $87,870
Florida $55,390
Georgia $54,220
Hawaii $63,020
Idaho $44,760
Illinois $68,930
Indiana $57,980
Iowa $61,380
Kansas $45,910
Kentucky $58,200
Louisiana $68,510
Maine $58,190
Maryland $61,750
Massachusetts $63,880
Michigan $47,620
Minnesota $63,870
Mississippi $60,340
Missouri $61,420
Montana $51,960
Nebraska $56,520
Nevada $57,850
New Hampshire $65,740
New Jersey $69,950
New Mexico $74,870
New York $69,500
North Carolina $47,690
North Dakota $62,400
Ohio $59,680
Oklahoma $64,650
Oregon $70,700
Pennsylvania $63,170
South Carolina $63,210
Tennessee $63,600
Texas $60,760
Utah $61,660
Vermont $77,590
Virginia $61,160
Washington $88,120
West Virginia $63,740
Wisconsin $54,720
Wyoming $57,530

Tools & Technologies Used by Electrical Drafters

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Electrical Drafters may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Access
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • PTC Creo Parametric
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Verilog
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
  • PTC Pro/INTRALINK
  • PTC Pro/Pipe
  • PTC Pro/CABLE
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Project Management

How do I Become an Electrical Drafter?

What kind of Electrical Drafter requirements are there?

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What work experience do I need to become an Electrical Drafter?

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Where Electrical Drafters Work

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those who work as an Electrical Drafter sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Pixabay via CC0 License

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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