What You'll Do

  • Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
  • Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
  • Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
  • Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
  • Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
  • Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
  • Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
  • Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
  • Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.
  • Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.62/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.5/5
Systems Analysis 3.5/5
Writing 3.38/5
Critical Thinking 3.38/5
Active Learning 3.38/5
Active Listening 3.25/5
Mathematics 3.25/5
Monitoring 3.25/5
Time Management 3.25/5
Speaking 3.12/5
Coordination 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cooperation, Analytical Thinking, Adaptability/Flexibility

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 3.62/5
Written Comprehension 3.62/5
Written Expression 3.62/5
Visualization 3.62/5
Near Vision 3.62/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.5/5
Oral Expression 3.38/5
Fluency of Ideas 3.38/5

Technologies & Tools

100 Plus Hatch Pattern Library Adobe Acrobat Adobe After Effects Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe LiveMotion Adobe Photoshop Alias Wavefront Design Studio Animation software ARCOM Masterspec Autodesk 3d Studio Viz Autodesk 3ds Max Autodesk Architectural Desktop Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Autodesk Inventor Autodesk Land Desktop Autodesk Revit Autodesk Revit Architecture

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.78/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.58/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.33/5)
  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.29/5)
  • Adaptability/Flexibility (High importance: 4.15/5)

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How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Architectural CAD Drafter (Architectural Computer-Aided Design Drafter) Architectural Computer-Aided Design Technician (Architectural CAD Technician) Architectural Designer Architectural Drafter Architectural Draftsman Architectural Technician Architectural Technologist Architecture Designer Architecture Drafter Architecture Technician AutoCAD Designer (Auto Computer-Aided Design Designer) AutoCAD Drafter (Auto Computer-Aided Design Drafter) BIM Designer (Building Information Modeling Designer) BIM Modeler (Building Information Modeling Modeler) BIM Specialist (Building Information Modeling Specialist) Building Drafter CAD Designer (Computer Aided Design Designer) CAD Drafter (Computer Aided Design Drafter) CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman) CAD Draughter (Computer Aided Design Draughter) CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Drafter) CADD Operator (Computer Aided Drafting and Design Operator) CADD Operator (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Operator) Civil CAD Designer (Civil Computer-Aided Design Designer) Civil CADD Designer (Civil Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Designer) Civil Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Technician (Civil CADD Technician) Civil Design Engineer Civil Designer Civil Drafter Civil Engineer Civil Engineering Designer Civil Site Design Engineer Civil Structural Designer Civil Technician Commercial Drafter Computer Aided Drafter Computer-Aided Design Designer (CAD Designer) Computer-Aided Design Drafter (CAD Drafter) Computer-Aided Design Operator (CAD Operator) Computer-Aided Design Technician (CAD Technician) Computer-Aided Drafter Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Drafter (CADD Drafter) Computer-Aided Drafting Designer (CAD Designer) Design Draftsman Designer Detailer Directional Survey Drafter Drafter Drafting Technician Draftsman Draftsperson Gas Drafter Geological Drafter Geophysical Drafter Heating and Ventilating Drafter Heating and Ventilation Drafter Landscape Drafter Marine Drafter Oil Drafter Piping Designer Plumbing Designer Plumbing Drafter Steel Detailer Structural Designer Structural Drafter Structural Draftsman Truss Designer