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Boston Career Explorer

Architecture and Engineering

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.

Also called: 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)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$79,310
$38.13/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
2,150
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−1.6%
220 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Associate's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$60,780$65,140$79,310$82,460$102,580

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure71 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 69
  • Language-model AIOE 60
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 83

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is higher, though observed AI use is little or none so far. Tools may speed up drawing production and code checks. Explaining drawings to construction teams and coordinating structural, electrical, and mechanical designs still involve people. Massachusetts employment is projected to fall 1.6% from 2024 to 2034, so exploring related paths may help.

Likely to change

  • Producing CAD drawings and scale plans
  • Checking designs against building codes

Still relies on people

  • Explaining drawings to construction teams
  • Coordinating structural, electrical, and mechanical designs

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

    Your skill with drawings and blueprints carries over to programming machine tools, a field with 15.5% projected growth, lower AI exposure, and moderate on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$6,250 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +15.5%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Structural Iron and Steel Workers

    Reading blueprints carries over to this trade, which has much lower AI exposure, Boston median pay of $120,840, and apprenticeship training.

    Pay difference
    +$41,530 median
    AI exposure
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    MA growth
    +6.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Electricians

    Following blueprints and building codes carries over to electrical work, which has 11.6% projected growth and paid apprenticeship training.

    Pay difference
    +$600 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +11.6%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

8 programs near Boston (plus 8 graduate)

Related occupations

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