Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-3011.00
Architectural and Civil Drafters
Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.
- US jobs
- 103,700
- Median wage
- $66,150 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of architectural and civil drafters?
We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Architecture and engineering:
- Task levelUnexploredNo task-level benchmark in our collection tests architecture or engineering design work, such as CAD modeling or engineering calculations.
- Project levelNot yetWhole projects are mostly out of reach. The Remote Labor Index includes 3D, CAD, and architecture projects; across all its projects, the best agent completed 15.8% to a standard a client would accept. GDPval includes mechanical engineers, and its deliverables score higher, but those tasks are one-shot and fully specified.
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
- 1846 EloClaude Opus 5.5 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort, Default Fallback) · 23 Sep 2026Unrated
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
- Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
- Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.
- Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
- Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.
- Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to compile measurements as necessary.
- Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
- Represent architect or engineer on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design specifications and advising on design corrections, under supervision.
- Review rough sketches, drawings, specifications, and other engineering data to ensure that they conform to design concepts.
- Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
- 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.
Other job titles for this occupation (53)
Architectural Designer · Architectural Drafter · Architectural Draftsman · CAD Designer (Computer-Aided Design Designer) · CAD Tech (Computer-Aided Design Technician) · CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Drafter) · Civil Drafter · Drafting Technician (Drafting Tech) · Draftsman · Draftsperson · Architectural CAD Drafter (Architectural Computer-Aided Design Drafter) · Architectural CAD Technician (Architectural Computer-Aided Design Technician) · Architectural Technician (Architectural Tech) · Architectural Technologist · Architecture Designer · Architecture Drafter · Architecture Technician (Architecture Tech) · 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 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) · Civil CAD Designer (Civil Computer-Aided Design Designer) · Civil CADD Designer (Civil Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Designer) · Civil CADD Technician (Civil Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Technician) · Civil Designer · Civil Engineering Designer · Civil Structural Designer · Commercial Drafter · Computer Aided Drafter · Computer-Aided Drafter · Design Draftsman · Directional Survey Drafter · Gas Drafter · Geological Drafter · Geophysical Drafter · Heating and Ventilating Drafter · Heating and Ventilation Drafter · Landscape Drafter · Marine Drafter · Oil Drafter · Plumbing Drafter · Steel Detailer · Structural Drafter · Structural Draftsman · Truss Designer