Electrical and Electronics Drafters build judgment and decision making, complex problem solving and time management skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Electrical Engineers (81%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Engineers | 81% | $120,630 | +57% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineers | 77% | $104,110 | +35% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Industrial Engineers | 76% | $102,440 | +33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Computer Hardware Engineers | 75% | $161,740 | +110% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 75% | $130,220 | +69% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Mechatronics Engineers | 75% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 74% | $81,390 | +6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Wind Energy Engineers | 74% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Construction and Building Inspectors | 73% | $74,690 | −3% | None |
| 10 | Commercial and Industrial Designers | 73% | $83,910 | +9% | Bachelor's degree |
Compared with Electrical and Electronics Drafters, median $76,870. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as electrical and electronics drafters (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
81% skill match · $120,630 · +57% pay
Repairing · Equipment Maintenance · Operations Monitoring
77% skill match · $104,110 · +35% pay
Operation and Control · Operations Analysis · Operations Monitoring
76% skill match · $102,440 · +33% pay
Operation and Control · Management of Material Resources · Complex Problem Solving
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Electrical Engineers (81% skill match, median $120,630), Mechanical Engineers (77% skill match, median $104,110) and Industrial Engineers (76% skill match, median $102,440), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 10 pay more than electrical and electronics drafters at the median. The biggest increases: Computer Hardware Engineers (+110%, $161,740), Aerospace Engineers (+76%, $134,960) and Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (+69%, $130,220).
4 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.