Occupation salary profile

Electrical and Electronics Drafters

SOC 17-3012 BLS OEWS May 2025

Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.

National median · BLS
$76,870
▲ +4.27% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$81,280
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
17,920
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Electrical and Electronics Drafters

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$50,040
25th$61,430
Median (50th)$76,870
75th$96,730
90th — top pay$120,290

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Electrical and Electronics Drafters

BLS projects employment of electrical and electronics drafters to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 1,400 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
18,900 → 18,200
-600 jobs
Projected change
-3.4%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,400
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
No related experience required
Self-employed
5% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need an associate's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Electrical and Electronics Drafters

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Active Listening3.6
  • Critical Thinking3.5
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.5
  • Writing3.5
  • Complex Problem Solving3.4
  • Reading Comprehension3.4
  • Active Learning3.3
  • Speaking3.3
  • Time Management3.1
  • Coordination3.0
Top knowledge areas
  • Design4.4
  • Engineering and Technology4.3
  • Computers and Electronics4.2
  • English Language3.9
  • Mathematics3.6
  • Administrative3.5
  • Education and Training3.2
  • Public Safety and Security3.1
Software and technology used
Autodesk AutoCADAutodesk RevitBentley MicroStationMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookAutodesk NavisworksNavisWorks JetstreamAdobe IllustratorCC++Dassault Systemes SolidWorksLinuxMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft Visio

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 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.

About the job

What electrical and electronics drafters do

  • 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.
  • Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
Also called
Computer-Aided Design OperatorDrafterElectrical DesignerStaking Technician (Staking Tech)DesignerDrafting Technician (Drafting Tech)Electrical DrafterLayout DesignerPrinted Circuit Board Designer (PCB Designer)Staking Engineer
More job titles for this occupation (38)
Analog Design EngineerAnalog Integrated Circuits Design Engineer (Analog IC Design Engineer)AutoCAD DrafterAutoCAD TechnicianCAD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design Drafter)CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman)CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Drafter)Circuit Board DrafterCircuit DesignerComputer-Aided Design Designer (CAD Designer)Computer-Aided Design Technician (CAD Tech)Computer-Aided Drafting and Design DesignerComputer-Aided Drafting and Design OperatorDesign DrafterDistribution DesignerElectrical Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Technician (Electrical CADD Tech)Electrical Computer-Aided Design OperatorElectrical Computer-Aided Drafting and Design DesignerElectrical Controls DesignerElectrical Design TechnicianElectrical Distribution DesignerElectrical Systems DrafterElectromechanical Design DrafterElectromechanisms Design DrafterElectronic DrafterEngineering AgentEquipment Services Associate (ESA)IC Layout Designer (Integrated Circuit Layout Designer)Instrumentation DesignerLine StakerMask DesignerMask Layout DesignerPrinted Circuit Board Drafter (PCB Drafter)Printed Circuit Board Draftsman (PCB Draftsman)Printed Circuit Board Layout Designer (PCB Layout Designer)Printed Circuit DesignerSystems DesignerTest Fixture Designer

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.