drafter
Drafters prepare and create technical drawings using a special software or manual techniques, to show how something is built or works.
drafter drafters prepare and create technical drawings using a special software or manual techniques, to show how something is built or works. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include CADD software, design drawings, mathematics, technical drawings, architectural design.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £35,221 a year for CAD, drawing and architectural technicians (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £29,500 to £42,481 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3120). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only drafter, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Design
- Building and Construction
- Public Safety and Security
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
What you'd actually do
- Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
- Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
- Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
- Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
- Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
- Monitor the work of specialists, such as electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, interior designers, or sound specialists to ensure optimal form or function of designs or final structures.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does drafter do?
Drafters prepare and create technical drawings using a special software or manual techniques, to show how something is built or works.
What skills does drafter need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include CADD software, design drawings, mathematics, technical drawings, architectural design, CAE software. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace drafter?
Our AI-durability model gives drafter a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.