Electrical and Electronics Drafters

Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.

Also called: Computer-Aided Design Operator, Designer, Drafter, Drafting Technician (Drafting Tech), Electrical Designer, Electrical Drafter, Layout Designer, Printed Circuit Board Designer (PCB Designer), Staking Engineer, Staking Technician (Staking Tech), Analog Design Engineer, Analog Integrated Circuits Design Engineer (Analog IC Design Engineer), AutoCAD Drafter, AutoCAD Technician, CAD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design Drafter), CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman), CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Drafter), Circuit Board Drafter, Circuit Designer, Computer-Aided Design Designer (CAD Designer), Computer-Aided Design Technician (CAD Tech), Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Designer, Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Operator, Design Drafter, Distribution Designer, Electrical Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Technician (Electrical CADD Tech), Electrical Computer-Aided Design Operator, Electrical Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Designer, Electrical Controls Designer, Electrical Design Technician, Electrical Distribution Designer, Electrical Systems Drafter, Electromechanical Design Drafter, Electromechanisms Design Drafter, Electronic Drafter, Engineering Agent, Equipment Services Associate (ESA), IC Layout Designer (Integrated Circuit Layout Designer), Instrumentation Designer, Line Staker, Mask Designer, Mask Layout Designer, Printed Circuit Board Drafter (PCB Drafter), Printed Circuit Board Draftsman (PCB Draftsman), Printed Circuit Board Layout Designer (PCB Layout Designer), Printed Circuit Designer, Systems Designer, Test Fixture Designer

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Draft detail and assembly drawings of design components, circuitry or printed circuit boards, using computer-assisted equipment or standard drafting techniques and devices.
Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications, or cross-sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew.
Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets to be checked by an engineer or an architect.
Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations.
Consult with engineers to discuss or interpret design concepts, or determine requirements of detailed working drawings.
Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as distances to be spanned by wire and cable.
Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
Draw master sketches to scale showing relation of proposed installations to existing facilities and exact specifications and dimensions.
Review work orders or procedural manuals and confer with vendors or design staff to resolve problems or modify design.

Skills, machines and equipment

Active Listening
Writing
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Complex Problem Solving
Speaking
Active Learning
Time Management
Monitoring
Coordination
Social Perceptiveness

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (40.08% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

O*NET Job Zone 3: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

61,430–96,730 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 17-3012.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Build design, analysis, validation, and project experience; explore senior technical specialist, project lead, or engineering-management paths with the required qualifications.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (40.08% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
O*NET Job Zone 3: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Electrical and Electronics Drafters