Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Mechanical Drafters
Occupation · SOC 17-3013.00
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.
Also called: Design Drafter · Drafter · Mechanical Designer · Mechanical Drafter · CAD Designer (Computer Aided Design Designer) · CAD Operator (Computer Aided Design Operator) · Drafting Technician · Product Designer · Project Designer · Aeronautical Drafter · Architectural Drafter · Auto Design Detailer
Job family: Architecture and Engineering Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-17-3013-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- Declining employment outlook (-6.5% by 2034)
- 3,300 openings/yr
- Moderate AI exposure
- Median pay $68,510/yr
- Can largely be done remotely (teleworkable)
- Both the 2013 computerization estimate and today's AI exposure rank this high
71st-percentile task overlap — yet about 3,300 openings a year (-6.5% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) High | 69th | 0.8 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) High | 83rd | 0.9 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Moderate | 60th | 0.2 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.1), with simple added tooling (β 0.5), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.9). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
Most of this job's tasks can be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman), which tends to track with higher digital and AI exposure.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.7 · 57th percentile among occupations · Moderate
How AI is actually used in this job
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed. | 0.3% | |
| Position instructions and comments onto drawings. | 0.2% | |
| Coordinate with and consult other workers to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems. | 0.2% |
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Declining · -6.5% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 3,300 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 42,900 → 40,100 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Mechanical Drafters sits at the 64th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure eased from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
35% mean task exposure (2025)
64th percentile of 427 placed occupations
−10 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Draughtspersons · 3118 | 35% | Minimal |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 15 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment. Core · importance 4.7
- Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software. Core · importance 4.4
- Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines. Core · importance 4.3
- Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems. Core · importance 4.2
- Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed. Core · importance 4.2
- Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials. Core · importance 4.2
- Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components. Core · importance 4.0
- Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment. Core · importance 3.9
- Coordinate with and consult other workers to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems. Core · importance 3.9
- Confer with customer representatives to review schematics and answer questions pertaining to installation of systems. Core · importance 3.7
- Position instructions and comments onto drawings. Core · importance 3.7
- Supervise and train other drafters, technologists, and technicians. Core · importance 3.5
- Lay out, draw, and reproduce illustrations for reference manuals and technical publications to describe operation and maintenance of mechanical systems. Core · importance 3.5
- Draw freehand sketches of designs, trace finished drawings onto designated paper for the reproduction of blueprints, and reproduce working drawings on copy machines. Core · importance 3.3
- Shade or color drawings to clarify and emphasize details and dimensions or eliminate background, using ink, crayon, airbrush, and overlays. Supplemental · importance 2.9
Emerging tasks
Newer responsibilities O*NET has flagged as growing for this occupation.
- Create bills of materials.
Work activities
- Create graphical representations of mechanical equipment.
- Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
- Analyze design or requirements information for mechanical equipment or systems.
- Design electromechanical equipment or systems.
- Verify mathematical calculations.
- Discuss designs or plans with clients.
- Supervise engineering or other technical personnel.
- Create images or other visual displays.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Design | 4.8 | |
| Engineering and Technology | 4.7 | |
| Mechanical | 4.5 | |
| Mathematics | 4.4 | |
| English Language | 3.9 | |
| Physics | 3.9 | |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.8 | |
| Production and Processing | 3.3 | |
| Education and Training | 3.1 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.1 |
Abilities
| Near Vision | 3.8 | |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 3.5 | |
| Visualization | 3.5 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.3 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.3 | |
| Written Expression | 3.3 | |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.3 | |
| Originality | 3.3 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.3 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.3 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.3 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.1 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.1 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.1 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.0 |
Essential skills
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 | |
| Active Listening | 3.3 | |
| Mathematics | 3.3 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 | |
| Active Learning | 3.3 | |
| Speaking | 3.1 | |
| Writing | 3.0 | |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
Transferable skills
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Instructing | 3.0 | |
| Operations Analysis | 3.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Showing the top 40 of 45.
Tools & technology
Showing the top 40 of 43.
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Typical entry-level education
- Associate's degree · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- 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.
- Preparation level
- SVP (6.0 to < 7.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 61.3% | |
| Bachelor's Degree | 20.3% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.0% | |
| Some College Courses | 7.5% | |
| Master's Degree | 2.8% | |
| First Professional Degree | 0.1% | |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 0.1% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Interest areas
| Engineering | 6.0 | |
| Mechanics/Electronics | 3.6 | |
| Information Technology | 3.1 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 2.8 | |
| Construction/Woodwork | 2.2 | |
| Applied Arts and Design | 2.2 | |
| Physical Science | 2.1 | |
| Visual Arts | 2.1 | |
| Office Work | 1.7 |
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 6.0 | |
| Conventional | 4.8 | |
| Investigative | 3.8 | |
| Artistic | 3.6 |
Work styles
| Attention to Detail | 3.0 | |
| Dependability | 2.2 | |
| Cautiousness | 1.8 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $46,500 |
| 25th percentile | $56,470 |
| Median (50th) | $68,510 |
| 75th percentile | $85,580 |
| 90th percentile | $107,600 |
| People employed | 39,900 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing · Sector | 20,960 | $65,520 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 9,340 | $74,820 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 6,600 | $76,460 |
| Construction · Sector | 4,200 | $74,560 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 2,750 | $80,850 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 2,040 | $68,510 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 1,200 | $69,980 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 880 | $78,250 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 690 | $74,590 |
| Machine Shops · National industry | 520 | $64,760 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors · National industry | 290 | $75,350 |
| Utilities · Sector | 270 | $86,040 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Services · National industry | 22.06× | 6,600 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 8.39× | 2,750 |
| Machine Shops · National industry | 7.74× | 520 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 6.35× | 20,960 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 3.35× | 9,340 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors · National industry | 3.02× | 120 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services · National industry | 2.27× | 100 |
| Construction · Sector | 2× | 4,200 |
Related occupations
Part of the Advanced Manufacturing career cluster.
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters · 17-3012.00 Compare →
- Architectural and Civil Drafters · 17-3011.00 Compare →
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians · 17-3027.00 Compare →
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic · 51-4061.00 Compare →
- Commercial and Industrial Designers · 27-1021.00 Compare →
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic · 51-4192.00 Compare →
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians · 17-3023.00 Compare →
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers · 51-9162.00 Compare →
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic · 51-4062.00 Compare →
- Machinists · 51-4041.00 Compare →
- Mechanical Engineers · 17-2141.00 Compare →
- Mechatronics Engineers · 17-2199.05 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Mechanical Drafters — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- Associate's degree · typical entry level
- Job zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 64th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Mechanical Drafters show 71st-percentile AI task overlap — and about 3,300 annual U.S. openings
- Mechanical Drafters rank in the 71st percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 3,300 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be declining (-6.5%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $68,510, across about 39,900 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Mechanical Drafters show 71st-percentile AI task overlap — and about 3,300 annual U.S. openings • Mechanical Drafters rank in the 71st percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 3,300 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be declining (-6.5%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $68,510, across about 39,900 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Mechanical Drafters". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3013-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Mechanical Drafters." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3013-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Mechanical Drafters. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3013-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-17-3013-00,
title = {Mechanical Drafters},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3013-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.