Electrical and Electronics Drafters
Also called: Computer-Aided Design Operator, Drafter, Electrical Designer, Staking Technician (Staking Tech)Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 21 of its 30 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 3.4% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. 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, 2.9% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other drafters”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 40% 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 | $51,650 | $44,660 to $64,630 | 300 |
| Alaska | not published | not published | 80 |
| Arizona | $73,080 | $55,390 to $90,110 | 570 |
| California | $78,310 | $63,180 to $102,530 | 2,730 |
| Colorado | $79,300 | $63,350 to $101,980 | 750 |
| Connecticut | $66,980 | $59,940 to $100,420 | 430 |
| Delaware | $63,460 | $48,400 to $76,930 | 60 |
| Florida | $73,010 | $54,770 to $87,840 | 660 |
| Georgia | $80,620 | $66,010 to $105,910 | 470 |
| Hawaii | $68,050 | $61,430 to $80,670 | 80 |
| Idaho | $81,590 | $54,040 to $116,410 | 100 |
| Illinois | $68,310 | $62,780 to $91,280 | 150 |
| Indiana | $80,100 | $64,260 to $99,900 | 360 |
| Iowa | $74,470 | $62,180 to $96,270 | 180 |
| Kansas | $60,730 | $48,350 to $84,680 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $79,050 | $64,880 to $82,540 | 80 |
| Louisiana | $62,550 | $44,990 to $84,300 | 150 |
| Maine | $75,100 | $61,660 to $78,070 | 110 |
| Maryland | $75,680 | $57,240 to $90,430 | 380 |
| Massachusetts | $87,290 | $60,280 to $104,430 | 470 |
| Michigan | $73,860 | $57,730 to $91,760 | 380 |
| Minnesota | $77,330 | $70,610 to $96,010 | 250 |
| Mississippi | $58,780 | $46,480 to $78,840 | 110 |
| Missouri | $76,690 | $63,030 to $96,000 | 420 |
| Nebraska | $59,570 | $50,260 to $77,470 | 190 |
| Nevada | $71,310 | $65,200 to $84,270 | 250 |
| New Hampshire | $102,070 | $80,860 to $124,410 | 220 |
| New Jersey | $77,600 | $61,510 to $104,410 | 240 |
| New Mexico | $101,330 | $79,750 to $120,520 | 390 |
| New York | $77,830 | $65,820 to $99,990 | 850 |
| North Carolina | $81,960 | $72,810 to $84,530 | 430 |
| North Dakota | not published | not published | 90 |
| Ohio | $80,840 | $61,880 to $90,320 | 510 |
| Oklahoma | $69,520 | $62,100 to $80,300 | 290 |
| Oregon | $78,170 | $62,650 to $94,460 | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,720 | $61,660 to $94,180 | 500 |
| Puerto Rico | $56,480 | $42,360 to $65,690 | 180 |
| South Carolina | $76,440 | $63,950 to $80,980 | 290 |
| South Dakota | $50,840 | $42,190 to $65,960 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $77,180 | $65,860 to $80,600 | 340 |
| Texas | $80,620 | $61,580 to $96,730 | 1,840 |
| Utah | $79,360 | $53,040 to $101,040 | 290 |
| Virginia | $64,650 | $57,010 to $86,120 | 280 |
| Washington | $72,250 | $62,640 to $98,440 | 390 |
| Wisconsin | $75,650 | $71,390 to $81,660 | 470 |
| Wyoming | $64,690 | $51,500 to $65,310 | 40 |
Nationally: $76,870. 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 21 of its 30 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications, or cross-sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets to be checked by an engineer or an architect. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Consult with engineers to discuss or interpret design concepts, or determine requirements of detailed working drawings. | Not published |
| AI + software | Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems. | Not published |
| Not much | Draft detail and assembly drawings of design components, circuitry or printed circuit boards, using computer-assisted equipment or standard drafting techniques and devices. | Not published |
| AI alone | Review work orders or procedural manuals and confer with vendors or design staff to resolve problems or modify design. | Not published |
See all 30 tasks
| AI + software | Draw master sketches to scale showing relation of proposed installations to existing facilities and exact specifications and dimensions. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Examine electronic schematics and supporting documents to develop, compute, and verify specifications for drafting data, such as configuration of parts, dimensions, or tolerances. | Not published |
| AI + software | Locate files relating to specified design project in database library, load program into computer, and record completed job data. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems. | Not published |
| AI alone | Compare logic element configuration on display screen with engineering schematics and calculate figures to convert, redesign, or modify element. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as distances to be spanned by wire and cable. | Not published |
| AI + software | Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments, as necessary. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Review blueprints to determine customer requirements and consult with assembler regarding schematics, wiring procedures, or conductor paths. | Not published |
| AI alone | Study work order requests to determine type of service, such as lighting or power, demanded by installation. | Not published |
| AI + software | Reproduce working drawings on copy machines or trace drawings in ink. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine the order of work and the method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing. | Not published |
| Not much | Visit proposed installation sites and draw rough sketches of location. | Not published |
| AI + software | Key and program specified commands and engineering specifications into computer system to change functions and test final layout. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Copy drawings of printed circuit board fabrication using print machine or blueprinting procedure. | Not published |
| Not much | Select drill size to drill test head, according to test design and specifications, and submit guide layout to designated department. | Not published |
| AI + software | Supervise and coordinate work activities of workers engaged in drafting, designing layouts, assembling, or testing printed circuit boards. | Not published |
| AI alone | Write technical reports and draw charts that display statistics and data. | Not published |
| Not much | Train students to use drafting machines and to prepare schematic diagrams, block diagrams, control drawings, logic diagrams, integrated circuit drawings, or interconnection diagrams. | Not published |
| AI + software | Generate computer tapes of final layout design to produce layered photo masks or photo plotting design onto film. | Not published |
| Not much | Plot electrical test points on layout sheets and draw schematics for wiring test fixture heads to frames. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare and interpret specifications, calculating weights, volumes, or stress factors. | Not published |
| Not much | Supervise or train other technologists, technicians, or drafters. | Not published |
| AI + software | Use computer-aided drafting equipment or conventional drafting stations, technical handbooks, tables, calculators, or traditional drafting tools, such as boards, pencils, protractors, or T-squares. | 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. O*NET hasn't rated 3 of the tasks, so they come last, in O*NET's own order. 7 of the 30 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 30 tasks fall under 18 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
- #13 Operate computer systems or computerized equipment
- and 6 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 | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Operate computer systems or computerized equipment | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Process digital or online data | |||
| Gather data about operational or development activities | |||
| Coordinate with others to resolve problems | |||
| Supervise personnel activities |
Show all 18 activities
| Explain technical details of products or services | |||
| Present research or technical information | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Plan work activities | |||
| Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data | |||
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities | |||
| Determine resource needs of projects or operations | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An explanation or answer17%
- Math or a calculation16%
- A document or report16%
- A chart or visualization12%
- A script or snippet3%
How they worked with Claude
46% 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 electrical and electronics 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 5,365 moves out
- 1 Electrical Engineers High +9.9% 13%
- 2 Designers, All Other High +1.2% 9%
- 3 Mechanical Drafters High -6.0% 7%
- 4 Drafters, All Other Very high -7.3% 5%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
Where people moved in from
of 6,676 moves in
- 1 Designers, All Other High +1.2% 8%
- 2 Drafters, All Other Very high -7.3% 7%
- 3 Electrical Engineers High +9.9% 6%
- 4 Mechanical Drafters High -6.0% 6%
- 5 Home Health Aides 5%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 6% high school
- 21% postsecondary certificate
- 7% some college
- 24% associate's
- 40% bachelor's
- 2% master's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 69 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 2% less than high school
- 12% high school
- 26% some college
- 35% associate's
- 24% bachelor's
- 2% master's
- 1% professional degree
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other drafters” · 962 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other drafters”
7 programs, such as Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician, Integrated Circuit Design Technology/Technician and Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician.
See all
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician
- Integrated Circuit Design Technology/Technician
- Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician
- Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General
- CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
- Electrical/Electronics Drafting and Electrical/Electronics CAD/CADD
- 3-D Modeling and Design Technology/Technician
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
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 5 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Electrical and Electronics 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 · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/17-3012.00