How To Become An Electrical Drafter: What It Is and Career Path

What is an electrical drafter and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Expert

Fred Garber Ph.D.

As an electrical drafter, you will create technical illustrations that companies will use as visual aids for operating complex equipment, communication hubs, or power plant wiring. Your drawings will be used as guidelines when installing or repairing equipment, which may include information such as dimensions and procedures. Thus, your role is essential to the functioning of the whole facility.

Some of the duties and responsibilities that you will perform as an electrical drafter include designing and drawing wiring diagrams. You will calculate material and transmission needs and develop technical specification guidelines. You will direct electrical installers and resolve electrical planning issues. Essential skills required to successfully complete these tasks are electrical design knowledge, drafting skills, collaborative, problem-solving, and communication.

To qualify for the position, employers usually expect electrical drafters to have an associate's degree. Moreover, prior work experience in a similar role would be advantageous. The average hourly pay for this position is $27.64, which amounts to more than $53,000 annually.

What general advice would you give to an Electrical Drafter?

Fred Garber Ph.D.

Professor, Electrical Engineering, Wright State University

I think the primary question, in the minds of those who are yet to graduate or are still searching, is in regard to the strength of the technical job market, especially the local job market. But you are in a position to definitively answer that question.

In you article, I would ask that you address the following:
Number of employers looking to fill and number of job offerings in the region (by engineering and computer science major) compared to last year and to the previous five years.

Any noticeable differences in job descriptions Zippia is receiving relative to work environment, benefits, starting salaries, etc.

Many of our soon-to-graduate students would be very interested in these quantitative and qualitative comparisons. Additionally, vast numbers of potential students would benefit from such information to guide their career choices.

ScoreElectrical DrafterUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $52,027

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.2

Growth Rate -3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 5.73%

Black or African American 3.03%

Hispanic or Latino 13.06%

Unknown 4.14%

White 73.89%

Gender

female 27.23%

male 72.77%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress Level

6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.4

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.2

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an electrical drafter

Explore electrical drafter education requirements

Most common electrical drafter degrees

Associate

63.4 %

Bachelor's

21.7 %

High School Diploma

6.3 %

Start to develop specific electrical drafter skills

Skills	Percentages
Autocad Electrical	12.97%
Revit	8.57%
Design Software	7.72%
Aided Design	6.46%
Panel Layouts	4.81%

Complete relevant electrical drafter training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New electrical drafters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an electrical drafter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real electrical drafter resumes.

Research electrical drafter duties and responsibilities

Manage database for PDF drawings and other electronic files.
Create details of conduit racks to be produce using AutoCAD MEP and REVIT MEPCreate installation diagrams to be used for field installation
Prepare and maintain BIM models.
Run collision reports using NavisWorks to coordinate with 3D steel, HVAC, piping, fire protection and plumbing models.

Prepare your electrical drafter resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your electrical drafter resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an electrical drafter resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Electrical Drafter Resume templates

Build a professional Electrical Drafter resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Electrical Drafter resume.

Apply for electrical drafter jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an electrical drafter job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do electrical drafters rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

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1 Star

Electrical Drafter reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020

Pros

To Install And Maintain Mostly In Building And Industrial Installation.

Cons

Repair, And Any Over Head Installation