What Do Architectural Drafters Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Architectural Drafters prepare detailed drawings of architectural designs and plans for buildings and structures according to specifications provided by architect. They also operate computer-aided drafting (CAD) equipment or conventional drafting station to produce designs, working drawings, charts, forms, and records.

Other tasks include:

• Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
• Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
• Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
• Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.
• Represent architect on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design specifications and advising on design corrections, under architect’s supervision.
• Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to lists of materials.

We asked Architectural Drafters how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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66% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 48% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Architectural Drafters analyze technical implications of architect’s design concept, calculating weights, volumes, and stress factors. They operate computer-aided drafting (CAD) equipment or conventional drafting station to produce designs, working drawings, charts, forms, and records.

A typical day for an Architectural Drafter will also include:

• Determine procedures and instructions to be followed, according to design specifications and quantity of required materials.
• 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.
• Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
• Reproduce drawings on copy machines or trace copies of plans and drawings, using transparent paper or cloth, ink, pencil, and standard drafting instruments.

We asked some Architectural Drafters a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	67% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	57% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	64% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	15% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	2% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Architectural Drafters also prepare cost estimates, contracts, bidding documents, and technical reports for specific projects under an architect’s supervision. They may also represent architect on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design specifications and advising on design corrections, under architect’s supervision.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Architectural Drafters Prepare colored drawings of landscape and interior designs for presentation to client. They might also Create freehand drawings and lettering to accompany drawings.

In addition, they Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to compile measurements as necessary.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to lists of materials.

To some Architectural Drafters, it is also their responsibility to Determine procedures and instructions to be followed, according to design specifications and quantity of required materials.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Architectural Drafter, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/architecture-and-engineering/drafters.htm

http://www.accsc.org/

http://www.adda.org/