About Drafting Jobs in Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Drafting Jobs Overview
Do you have a hard time choosing between a creative and technical career? Consider applying for drafting jobs, where you can combine your artistic abilities with your computer skills to help craft new buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. Drafters—also known as draftsmen, draftspeople, or drafting technicians—translate the ideas of architects and engineers into technical drawings that are easy for construction or manufacturing crews to read and build. In this career, you'll be following in the footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci, who many consider to be one of the first master drafters—his technical drawings of inventions were revolutionary.
Today, most drafters use computer-aided design (CAD) software or computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software. Drafters can also draw by hand using a tilting table or a drafting machine, but this is mostly limited to the concept stage. Software is used for the final design.
Drafters usually specialize in one of the following areas:
- Mechanical drafters prepare diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices.
- Architectural drafters work with architects to produce designs for buildings and infrastructure.
- Civil drafters work with civil engineers to create maps, drawings, and diagrams of buildings and infrastructure.
- Electrical and electronic drafters work with electrical and electronic engineers to produce diagrams and drawings of equipment and parts.
You can expand your search for engineering jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is decidedly defined by the presence of the University of Michigan's flagship 40-acre campus, which propels the local economy and certainly influences the area's cultural topography. But residents are also drawn to this mid-sized city for its appealing fusion of culinary diversion (over 300 restaurants), farmers' markets, arts and festivals, history of political activism, and outdoor recreation (including golfing, hiking, kayaking down the Huron River, and the stunning Nichols Arboretum). Public schools are also highly esteemed, and the public transportation system is well-structured. Plus, Livability recently named Ann Arbor as the second-best place to live in the United States (among small-to-medium cities).
Naturally, in terms of Ann Arbor jobs, education is a major sector, along with pharmaceutical research, medical technology, and healthcare (Michigan Medicine—the university's health system—employs about 12,000 workers). You can also find opportunities in the automotive industry. The city is almost magical too, and it's a wonderland for ambitious, innovative thinkers. It boasts a faster-than-national-average job growth rate of 38.1%, but if you need more options, take a look at Livonia, Dearborn, and Detroit nearby.
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How Much Do Drafting Jobs Pay in Ann Arbor, Michigan?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in drafting jobs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median drafter pay in Ann Arbor is $34.34 per hour, which is 29% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Ann Arbor Drafting Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
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