Architectural and Civil Drafters

Architecture and Engineering Occupations
O*NET-SOC code
17-3011.00

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.

  • Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08

    High· relative

    LowFour relative bandsVery high

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)

    831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band

    Source dataset (XLSX download)

  • Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03

    0.000

    0.000Range of values carried here0.745
    Scale, basis and source

    Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Mapped onto O*NET tasks

    Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value

    Source dataset (CSV download)

  • Data source: ILOPublished: 2025

    0.35

    0.09Range of values carried here0.70

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published

    Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Exposed tasks only

28 rated tasks · 27 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (96.4%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

  • Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
  • 2 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
Source
OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release
gh-main-0471612
License
MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Tasks of O*NET-SOC 2010 occupations 17-3011.01 Architectural Drafters; 17-3011.02 Civil Drafters, linked to this occupation by the O*NET-SOC 2010 to 2019 crosswalk

Task (O*NET 20.1)Claude.aiRaw / share %
Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.

17-3011.02

0.008930.1
Prepare cost estimates, contracts, bidding documents, and technical reports for specific projects under an architect's supervision.

17-3011.01

0.008528.8
Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.

17-3011.01

0.006522.1
Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.

17-3011.01

0.003010.2
Analyze technical implications of architect's design concept, calculating weights, volumes, and stress factors.

17-3011.01

0.00268.8
Not observed on any surface — 27 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states.
Operate computer-aided drafting (CAD) equipment or conventional drafting station to produce designs, working drawings, charts, forms, and records.
—0
Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
—0
Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to compile measurements as necessary.
—0
Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
—0
Supervise, coordinate, and inspect the work of draftspersons, technicians, and technologists on construction projects.
—0
Represent architect on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design specifications and advising on design corrections, under architect's supervision.
—0
Determine procedures and instructions to be followed, according to design specifications and quantity of required materials.
—0
Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to lists of materials.
—0
Create freehand drawings and lettering to accompany drawings.
—0
Prepare colored drawings of landscape and interior designs for presentation to client.
—0
Reproduce drawings on copy machines or trace copies of plans and drawings, using transparent paper or cloth, ink, pencil, and standard drafting instruments.
—0
Calculate heat loss and gain of buildings and structures to determine required equipment specifications, following standard procedures.
—0
Build landscape, architectural, and display models.
—0
Produce drawings using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles and other drafting devices.
—0
Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
—0
Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations and structures.
—0
Correlate, interpret, and modify data obtained from topographical surveys, well logs, and geophysical prospecting reports.
—0
Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages, according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.
—0
Review rough sketches, drawings, specifications, and other engineering data received from civil engineers to ensure that they conform to design concepts.
—0
Supervise and train other technologists, technicians and drafters.
—0
Supervise or conduct field surveys, inspections or technical investigations to obtain data required to revise construction drawings.
—0
Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
—0
Calculate excavation tonnage and prepare graphs and fill-hauling diagrams for use in earth-moving operations.
—0
Locate and identify symbols located on topographical surveys to denote geological and geophysical formations or oil field installations.
—0
Calculate weights, volumes, and stress factors and their implications for technical aspects of designs.
—0
Determine quality, cost, strength and quantity of required materials, and enter figures on materials lists.
—0
Plot characteristics of boreholes for oil and gas wells from photographic subsurface survey recordings and other data, representing depth, degree and direction of inclination.
—0

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (26)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)Type
Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.Core
Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.Core
Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.Core
Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.Core
Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.Core
Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.Core
Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.Core
Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.Core
Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.Core
Correlate, interpret, and modify data obtained from topographical surveys, well logs, and geophysical prospecting reports.Core
Supervise or conduct field surveys, inspections, or technical investigations to obtain data required to revise construction drawings.Core
Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.Core
Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to compile measurements as necessary.Core
Represent architect or engineer on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design specifications and advising on design corrections, under supervision.Core
Review rough sketches, drawings, specifications, and other engineering data to ensure that they conform to design concepts.Core
Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.Supplemental
Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to lists of materials.Supplemental
Determine procedures and instructions to be followed, according to design specifications and quantity of required materials.Supplemental
Determine quality, cost, strength, and quantity of required materials, and enter figures on materials lists.Supplemental
Locate and identify symbols on topographical surveys to denote geological and geophysical formations or oil field installations.Supplemental
Create freehand drawings and lettering to accompany drawings.Supplemental
Prepare colored drawings of landscape and interior designs for presentation to client.Supplemental
Calculate weights, volumes, and stress factors and their implications for technical aspects of designs.Supplemental
Reproduce drawings on copy machines or trace copies of plans and drawings, using transparent paper or cloth, ink, pencil, and standard drafting instruments.Supplemental
Calculate heat loss and gain of buildings and structures to determine required equipment specifications, following standard procedures.Supplemental
Prepare cost estimates, contracts, bidding documents, and technical reports for specific projects under an architect's or engineer's supervision.Supplemental

Occupation information

Employment outlook (BLS)

Employment, 2025
104K
Projected employment, 2035
110K
Change (2025–35)
+5.2%
Median annual wage, 2025
$66,150
Typical education needed for entry
Associate's degree
lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO codeKSCO titleRelationStatus
23951건축 제도사This occupation is broaderconfirmed
23952토목 제도사This occupation is broaderconfirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

  • ISCO-08 3118Draughtspersons

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

  • drafterESCO 3118.3This occupation is narrower

    Drafters prepare and create technical drawings using a special software or manual techniques, to show how something is built or works.

  • architectural drafterESCO 3118.3.2This occupation is broader

    Architectural drafters make drawings of the specifications and ideas provided by architects. They draw architectural drawings using computer-aided equipment and software, or using conventional methods like paper and pen.

  • civil drafterESCO 3118.3.4This occupation is broader

    Civil drafters draw and prepare sketches for civil engineers and architects of architectonic projects of different kinds, topographical maps, or for the reconstruction of existing structures. They lay down in the sketches all the specifications and requirements such as mathematical, aesthetic, engineering, and technical.

  • computer-aided design operatorESCO 3118.3.5Overlapping, not the same

    Computer-aided design operators use computer hardware and software in order to add the technical dimensions to computer aided design drawings. Computer-aided design operators ensure all additional aspects of the created images of products are accurate and realistic. They also calculate the amount of materials needed to manufacture the products. Later the finalised digital design is processed by computer-aided manufacturing machines that produce the finished product.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME codeROME title (French)Relation
F1104Dessinateur-projeteur / Dessinatrice-projeteuse de la constructionSame scopeprovisional
F1110Dessinateur / Dessinatrice enveloppe du bâtimentThis occupation is broaderprovisional
H2209Dessinateur / Dessinatrice de structures en boisThis occupation is broaderprovisional
F1125BIM ManagerRelated, not a matchprovisional
F1126Assistant / Assistante maîtrise d'œuvre en architectureRelated, not a matchprovisional

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 codeCNO-11 title (Spanish)Relation
3110Delineantes y dibujantes técnicosThis occupation is narrower

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB codeKldB title (German)Relation
27212Technische Zeichner/innen - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenThis occupation is narrower
27223Berufe in der Konstruktion und im Gerätebau - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenRelated, not a match
34323Berufe im Rohrleitungsbau - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenRelated, not a matchprovisional

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO codeJSCO title (Japanese)Relation
591生産関連作業従事者This occupation is narrower

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources