Architectural and Civil Drafters
Also called: Architectural Designer, Architectural Drafter, CAD Tech (Computer-Aided Design Technician), DraftsmanPrepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 22 of its 26 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 5.2% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 2.3% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 77% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.9 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $57,100 | $46,420 to $68,850 | 1,010 |
| Alaska | not published | not published | 220 |
| Arizona | $64,750 | $58,410 to $79,960 | 2,120 |
| Arkansas | $62,420 | $57,760 to $74,100 | 980 |
| California | $76,520 | $62,220 to $96,300 | 11,400 |
| Colorado | $76,370 | $61,570 to $92,310 | 3,570 |
| Connecticut | $76,290 | $64,250 to $79,720 | 810 |
| Delaware | $73,040 | $58,530 to $80,710 | 290 |
| District of Columbia | $97,880 | $78,960 to $118,490 | 370 |
| Florida | $62,640 | $48,380 to $77,580 | 7,530 |
| Georgia | $74,940 | $56,930 to $79,790 | 3,970 |
| Guam | $56,710 | $44,960 to $58,950 | 70 |
| Hawaii | $63,510 | $56,220 to $82,290 | 610 |
| Idaho | $61,840 | $52,080 to $76,000 | 1,010 |
| Illinois | $58,240 | $48,690 to $74,790 | 1,310 |
| Indiana | $60,000 | $50,220 to $74,810 | 2,240 |
| Iowa | $64,220 | $57,500 to $80,390 | 980 |
| Kansas | $62,220 | $52,220 to $72,290 | 630 |
| Kentucky | $60,120 | $48,140 to $74,870 | 870 |
| Louisiana | $61,010 | $48,090 to $81,560 | 1,040 |
| Maine | $66,200 | $57,840 to $78,470 | 440 |
| Maryland | $75,180 | $61,870 to $86,550 | 910 |
| Massachusetts | $76,990 | $64,270 to $82,460 | 2,660 |
| Michigan | $58,330 | $48,410 to $73,800 | 2,100 |
| Minnesota | $70,680 | $61,450 to $80,780 | 1,930 |
| Mississippi | $59,920 | $50,790 to $67,800 | 330 |
| Missouri | $61,940 | $55,230 to $76,360 | 2,270 |
| Montana | $65,750 | $58,390 to $77,510 | 600 |
| Nebraska | $61,550 | $54,170 to $77,030 | 850 |
| Nevada | $67,000 | $57,320 to $82,100 | 1,100 |
| New Hampshire | $65,300 | $58,580 to $76,200 | 400 |
| New Jersey | $62,960 | $56,880 to $78,000 | 2,280 |
| New Mexico | $50,230 | $43,670 to $75,130 | 690 |
| New York | $76,260 | $60,890 to $93,840 | 7,380 |
| North Carolina | $62,750 | $51,780 to $78,670 | 2,680 |
| North Dakota | $64,720 | $58,610 to $77,040 | 380 |
| Ohio | $61,450 | $48,710 to $76,710 | 2,860 |
| Oklahoma | $62,140 | $48,060 to $76,190 | 1,260 |
| Oregon | $74,000 | $62,870 to $80,510 | 1,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,800 | $54,560 to $79,570 | 5,370 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,720 | $37,600 to $46,570 | 690 |
| Rhode Island | $71,700 | $61,640 to $83,960 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $64,680 | $50,110 to $79,320 | 1,170 |
| South Dakota | $52,470 | $46,660 to $61,160 | 460 |
| Tennessee | $69,220 | $57,140 to $80,480 | 1,310 |
| Texas | $63,320 | $50,810 to $81,050 | 11,710 |
| Utah | $64,290 | $56,020 to $80,860 | 1,820 |
| Vermont | $61,000 | $47,460 to $73,550 | 230 |
| Virginia | $63,450 | $53,940 to $76,800 | 2,600 |
| Washington | $73,000 | $61,040 to $83,920 | 2,530 |
| West Virginia | $65,640 | $48,290 to $84,680 | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $62,930 | $57,380 to $78,620 | 2,200 |
| Wyoming | $63,730 | $57,270 to $72,570 | 200 |
Nationally: $66,150. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 22 of its 26 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Review rough sketches, drawings, specifications, and other engineering data to ensure that they conform to design concepts. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to compile measurements as necessary. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data. | Not published |
| AI + software | Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans. | Not published |
See all 26 tasks
| AI alone | Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods. | Not published |
| AI + software | Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures. | Not published |
| AI + software | Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software. | Not published |
| Not much | Represent architect or engineer on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design specifications and advising on design corrections, under supervision. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing. | Not published |
| Not much | Supervise or conduct field surveys, inspections, or technical investigations to obtain data required to revise construction drawings. | Not published |
| Not much | Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters. | Not published |
| AI alone | Prepare cost estimates, contracts, bidding documents, and technical reports for specific projects under an architect's or engineer's supervision. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Correlate, interpret, and modify data obtained from topographical surveys, well logs, and geophysical prospecting reports. | Not published |
| AI + software | Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes. | Not published |
| AI + software | Create freehand drawings and lettering to accompany drawings. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine quality, cost, strength, and quantity of required materials, and enter figures on materials lists. | Not published |
| AI alone | Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to lists of materials. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Determine procedures and instructions to be followed, according to design specifications and quantity of required materials. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Reproduce drawings on copy machines or trace copies of plans and drawings, using transparent paper or cloth, ink, pencil, and standard drafting instruments. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare colored drawings of landscape and interior designs for presentation to client. | Not published |
| AI + software | Calculate weights, volumes, and stress factors and their implications for technical aspects of designs. | Not published |
| AI alone | Locate and identify symbols on topographical surveys to denote geological and geophysical formations or oil field installations. | Not published |
| AI + software | Calculate heat loss and gain of buildings and structures to determine required equipment specifications, following standard procedures. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 8 of the 26 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 26 tasks fall under 19 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #7 Explain technical details of products or services
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- and 4 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Estimate project development or operational costs | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data | |||
| Determine resource needs of projects or operations | |||
| Explain technical details of products or services | |||
| Present research or technical information | |||
| Determine operational methods or procedures |
Show all 19 activities
| Advise others on the design or use of technologies | |||
| Gather data about operational or development activities | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Plan work activities | |||
| Advise others on business or operational matters | |||
| Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits | |||
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities | |||
| Assess characteristics of land or property | |||
| Analyze data to improve operations | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards | |||
| Supervise personnel activities |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An explanation or answer22%
- A document or report12%
- A chart or visualization12%
- An analysis or summary11%
- Advice or a recommendation8%
How they worked with Claude
44% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for architectural and civil drafters specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 6,347 moves out
- 1 Mechanical Drafters High -6.0% 11%
- 2 Drafters, All Other Very high -7.3% 10%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 8%
- 4 Designers, All Other High +1.2% 8%
- 5 Civil Engineers High +6.4% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 6,646 moves in
- 1 Drafters, All Other Very high -7.3% 11%
- 2 Mechanical Drafters High -6.0% 10%
- 3 Designers, All Other High +1.2% 9%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 5 Architects, Except Landscape and Naval High +4.3% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 10% high school
- 24% some college
- 28% associate's
- 30% bachelor's
- 6% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 570 people surveyed.
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
9 programs, such as Architectural Technology/Technician, Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology and Architectural Sciences and Technology, Other.
See all
- Architectural Technology/Technician
- Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology
- Architectural Sciences and Technology, Other
- Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General
- CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
- Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD
- Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD
- 3-D Modeling and Design Technology/Technician
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
20.2% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a certification | 6.3% | 5.8% |
| a license | not published | |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 8 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Architectural and Civil Drafters” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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