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ConstructionTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.Green JobOccupation aligned to O*NET green economy classifications.

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.

Annual openings

350

Median wage

$76,370

Typical education

Associate's degree

Growth 2026–2032

+9%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Associate's degree

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Work experience

No previous work experience is required.

Employer competency information

  • Refer above to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities information. Math skills are important to understand elevation changes and site maps.
The need for CAD expertise is high in many industries, including Construction projects that could impact our natural resources.
Drafting jobs are evolving, incorporating technology like rovers, GIS and GPS.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerYes
  • OutdoorsNo
  • With your handsNo

Interests it draws on

  • Trades
  • Architecture and Civil Drafting

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
  2. Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
  3. Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
  4. Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
  5. Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
  6. Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
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