CAD drafters work in engineering, manufacturing, industry and government to produce the technical drawings for products or structures that have not been built yet. Their drawing must be detailed, technically accurate, and should convey the proper instructions for materials, tools and assembly.
They work under the supervision of engineers to produce these drawings, and are expected to know the specific codes, rules, requirements, etc. for the industry in which they work. CAD drafters typically work indoors in office settings but depending upon their assignment, they may travel to client job sites as needed.
Required Education and Experience
There are no uniform standards for hiring CAD drafters; however, most employers seek professionals with a minimum of an associate degree from an accredited program. In some cases, a certificate may be sufficient for entry-level employment. There are no licenses required, but some CAD operators do pursue individual drafter certifications to reinforce their resumes.
Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for CAD drafters in 2015 was $52,720 per year, or $25.35 per hour. Indeed cites a slightly different figure for the state of Georgia, reporting annual salaries of around $48,000. It is important to remember that salary varies significantly across the U.S., based on location, the company and the qualifications and skills of the individual drafter. The BLS also reports that job growth is expected to slow a bit through 2024, as automation has been predicted to replace the need for some drafters; however, hiring in manufacturing sectors is projected to grow.
Current CAD Drafter Opening
Selectek is working with a company in the Hiram, Georgia, area seeking to add a drafter to their team. This role will work to create shop drawings of aluminum components in AutoCAD. Successful candidates must be able to read construction documents and blueprints.
In this role, the drafter will be responsible for taking the end client’s existing basic construction documents and making required markups and changes to the documents for our client’s product(s). Once completed, the document will be sent to the end client for review, and when returned, the drafter will make any requested adjustment before the final fabrication document is created.
Candidates should have a minimum of three years’ experience creating shop drawings, be experienced in AutoCAD and be adept at reading construction documents and blueprints. Experience working with aluminum parts is preferred, but not required. You can learn more and apply for this position here.
If you are an experienced CAD drafter in the Southeast looking for exciting new opportunities, we encourage you to reach out to the expert recruiters at Selectek. We are always seeking strong engineering talent to match with some of the most innovative companies in the region. Contact us today to learn more about our process for helping you take the next step in your career.
