Drafting Technologists and Technicians

What they do?

Drafting technologists perform some or all of the following duties:

A. Supervise and train other technologists, technicians and drafters.

Drafting technicians perform some or all of the following duties:

A. Develop and prepare engineering drawings, plans, diagrams or layouts from sketches

B. Operate computer-assisted drafting equipment or a conventional drafting station

C. Develop and prepare engineering designs and drawings from preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets and other data

D. Operate computer-assisted design (CAD) and drafting workstations

E. Develop and prepare design sketches

F. Complete documentation packages and produce drawing sets

G. Check and verify design drawings to conform to specifications and design data

H. Write technical reports

I. Prepare contracts and tender documents

Where they find work?

1. Architectural engineering and related services - 41.0%
2. Fabricated metal product manufacturing - 6.0%
3. Construction - 6.0%
4. Machinery manufacturing - 6.0%
5. Utilities - 4.0%
6. Public administration - 4.0%

What education do I need?

1. In general, you need a high school diploma.

2. To be a drafting and design technologist, you usually need to finish a two- to three-year college or technical school program in engineering design/drafting technology or in a related field.

3. To be a drafting technician, you usually need a one- to two-year college program in drafting or have a combination of four to five years' related work experience, plus completion of college or industry courses in drafting.

4. You may need certification in electrical or electronics engineering by a provincial/territorial association, which is obtained after two years' supervised work experience.

5. With additional education or experience, you may specialize in civil, mechanical, electrical or other engineering design technologies.

6. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma.

High School Subject that will help:

Math
Drafting
Drafting
Graphic Design

What can you expect to make:

The average hourly wages for Drafting Technologists and Technicians is $20.94/HR, which is below average for occupations in the natural and applied sciences and related occupations and close to the average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.

Average Wage

Drafting Technologists and Technicians wages

Expected Wage by Age

Drafting Technologists and Technicians Wage By Age

Unemployment:

3% of Drafting Technologists and Technicians are unemployed. This rate is close to the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations.

Unemployment

Trends in Unemployment

Current Job Outlook:

The job outlook for Drafting Technologists and Technicians is considered Below Average because:

1. Employment grew at a below-average rate.

2. Hourly wages ($20.94) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average.

3. The unemployment rate (3%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).

Future Job Prospects:

Your job outlook will continue to be Below Average because:

1. The employment growth rate will likely be close to the average.

2. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings.

3. The number of job seekers will likely exceed the number of job openings.

Highest Concetration:

The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Drafting Technologists and Technicians are found in Alberta and Quebec while the lowest concentrations are in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.

Unionization Rate:

The unionization rate (15%) is below the average (32%) for all occupations.

Useful Experience:

1. Team project work

2. Drawing

3. 3-D visualization

Part Time Workers

Part time workers:

4% of Drafting Technologists and Technicians are employed only on a part-time basis. There were 31,800 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, a decrease of 12% since 1997.