Mechanical Drafters
Also called: Design Drafter, Die Designer, Drafter, Mechanical DesignerPrepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.
On a phone, press and hold a picture to save it to Photos.
opens your phone's share sheet, where you can save both to Photos
What the data says: AI could halve the time on 13 of its 15 rated tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 6.0% 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, 2.9% 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, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 52% 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.5.4 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 | $53,600 | $45,160 to $76,960 | 440 |
| Alaska | not published | not published | 50 |
| Arizona | $67,410 | $57,700 to $80,660 | 630 |
| Arkansas | $59,960 | $51,860 to $70,750 | 250 |
| California | $82,510 | $65,900 to $102,860 | 3,640 |
| Colorado | $85,280 | $70,420 to $117,240 | 580 |
| Connecticut | $68,830 | $56,110 to $86,800 | 450 |
| Delaware | $57,110 | $52,670 to $67,990 | 160 |
| Florida | $68,050 | $55,830 to $79,280 | 1,540 |
| Georgia | $66,670 | $59,900 to $83,960 | 820 |
| Idaho | $59,050 | $48,900 to $86,420 | 330 |
| Illinois | $63,320 | $56,710 to $81,480 | 450 |
| Indiana | $62,820 | $52,000 to $77,270 | 1,300 |
| Iowa | $63,330 | $54,230 to $79,900 | 630 |
| Kansas | $65,250 | $52,610 to $82,840 | 540 |
| Kentucky | $68,880 | $61,990 to $74,990 | 510 |
| Louisiana | $77,730 | $57,980 to $122,330 | 420 |
| Maine | $76,360 | $61,470 to $76,360 | 620 |
| Maryland | $76,740 | $59,620 to $100,090 | 360 |
| Massachusetts | $75,490 | $61,990 to $96,570 | 620 |
| Michigan | $72,280 | $57,720 to $94,900 | 2,030 |
| Minnesota | $73,090 | $62,940 to $79,870 | 1,220 |
| Mississippi | $60,460 | $47,720 to $80,270 | 260 |
| Missouri | $66,350 | $58,360 to $84,430 | 870 |
| Nebraska | $61,170 | $48,930 to $76,730 | 530 |
| Nevada | $75,830 | $56,880 to $94,260 | 250 |
| New Hampshire | $55,390 | $45,770 to $74,480 | not published |
| New Jersey | $83,380 | $72,030 to $99,340 | 690 |
| New Mexico | $89,940 | $85,730 to $128,400 | 90 |
| New York | $76,490 | $62,640 to $92,610 | 1,940 |
| North Carolina | $59,050 | $49,450 to $71,340 | 1,350 |
| North Dakota | $77,570 | $62,220 to $81,740 | 100 |
| Ohio | $70,580 | $57,720 to $80,360 | 1,790 |
| Oklahoma | $63,440 | $50,640 to $76,690 | 650 |
| Oregon | $74,000 | $59,920 to $96,780 | 410 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,480 | $53,500 to $78,490 | 2,330 |
| Puerto Rico | $53,470 | $43,680 to $61,050 | 320 |
| Rhode Island | $69,290 | $59,460 to $80,780 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $63,740 | $55,140 to $80,240 | 640 |
| South Dakota | $52,610 | $47,860 to $65,190 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $63,390 | $51,360 to $76,540 | 740 |
| Texas | $79,380 | $61,710 to $93,600 | 4,630 |
| Utah | $70,000 | $58,100 to $83,190 | 490 |
| Vermont | $73,040 | $56,610 to $84,100 | 70 |
| Virginia | $69,630 | $60,010 to $83,380 | 630 |
| Washington | $76,820 | $61,560 to $109,480 | 1,690 |
| West Virginia | $65,100 | $55,660 to $81,320 | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $63,770 | $58,390 to $76,550 | 1,630 |
| Wyoming | $61,070 | $50,130 to $65,420 | 60 |
Nationally: $71,550. 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 13 of its 15 rated tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems. | Not published |
| AI + software | Position instructions and comments onto drawings. | Not published |
| AI + software | Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines. | under 0.01% |
| Not rated | Create bills of materials. | Not published |
See all 16 tasks
| Not much | Coordinate with and consult other workers to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components. | Not published |
| AI alone | Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Confer with customer representatives to review schematics and answer questions pertaining to installation of systems. | Not published |
| AI + software | Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Supervise and train other drafters, technologists, and technicians. | Not published |
| AI + software | Lay out, draw, and reproduce illustrations for reference manuals and technical publications to describe operation and maintenance of mechanical systems. | Not published |
| AI + software | Shade or color drawings to clarify and emphasize details and dimensions or eliminate background, using ink, crayon, airbrush, and overlays. | Not published |
| AI + software | Draw freehand sketches of designs, trace finished drawings onto designated paper for the reproduction of blueprints, and reproduce working drawings on copy machines. | 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. 5 of the 16 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 16 tasks fall under 8 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.
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- #25 Communicate with others about specifications or project details
- #33 Compile records, documentation, or other data
| 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 | |||
| Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Compile records, documentation, or other data | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Confer with clients to determine needs or order specifications | |||
| Supervise personnel activities | |||
| 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 answer21%
- Math or a calculation14%
- A chart or visualization13%
- A document or report10%
- A script or snippet8%
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 mechanical 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 26,882 moves out
- 1 Drafters, All Other Very high -7.3% 9%
- 2 Mechanical Engineers Very high +11.2% 9%
- 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 Architectural and Engineering Managers High +5.5% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 27,556 moves in
- 1 Drafters, All Other Very high -7.3% 11%
- 2 Designers, All Other High +1.2% 8%
- 3 Mechanical Engineers Very high +11.2% 7%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Architectural and Civil Drafters High +5.2% 2%
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)
- 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.
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other drafters”
7 programs, such as Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician, Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician and Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician.
See all
- Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician
- Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
- Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician
- Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General
- CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
- Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD
- 3-D Modeling and Design Technology/Technician
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
44.2% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| a certification | 3.0% | 5.8% |
| 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 11 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Mechanical 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
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/17-3013.00