Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
You might know that the Steelers play in Pittsburgh—during the late 1800s and early 1900s, the "City of Steel" was the home of Carnegie Steel Co., which later became United States Steel Corp. But, did you know that Pittsburgh is also called the "City of Bridges?" It has a total of 446 bridges, which are popular with walkers, bikers, tourists, and even social media influencers. In Pittsburgh's vibrant downtown, you can catch a touring Broadway show or browse an art gallery in the Cultural District. If you want diverse dining options, head to Market Square, where you'll find everything from brick oven pizza to gourmet grilled cheese to fresh oysters. Still not convinced that you should apply to Pittsburgh jobs? WalletHub even ranked Pittsburgh among the top 20 best large cities to live in the U.S.
What makes Pittsburgh's job market so unique? It's home to many large corporations but also fosters a start-up environment with lots of small, emerging industries and companies. And if you can't find that perfect-fit job in Pittsburgh, you can also look in Altoona, State College, and Harrisburg.
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How Much Do Drafting Jobs Pay in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
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 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 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 Pittsburgh is $22.40 per hour, which is 8% lower than the national average.
Find Your Next Pittsburgh Drafting Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
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