Jobs Similar to Architectural and Civil Drafters
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to architectural and civil drafters, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Architects (Except Landscape and Naval), Electrical and Electronics Drafters and Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians.
Architectural and Civil Drafters: $66,150 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Architectural and Civil Drafters) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | 80% | $99,280+50% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Electrical and Electronics DraftersSame group | 79% | $76,870+16% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 79% | $64,950−2% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Landscape Architects | 79% | $79,870+21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Civil Engineers | 78% | $100,840+52% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Transportation Engineers | 77% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 76% | $81,390+23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Wind Energy Engineers | 76% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 74% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Water/Wastewater Engineers | 74% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Environmental Engineers | 73% | $107,110+62% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Interior Designers | 73% | $67,190+2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Mechanical DraftersSame group | 73% | $71,550+8% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Electrical Engineers | 73% | $120,630+82% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 73% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers | 72% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 72% | $106,220+61% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Aerospace Engineers | 72% | $134,960+104% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Construction and Building Inspectors | 72% | $74,690+13% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Industrial Engineers | 71% | $102,440+55% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
80% similar · $99,280 (+50%) · Graduate degree
- 2Electrical and Electronics Drafters
79% similar · $76,870 (+16%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $64,950 (−2%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Landscape Architects
79% similar · $79,870 (+21%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Civil Engineers
78% similar · $100,840 (+52%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Transportation Engineers
77% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
76% similar · $81,390 (+23%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Wind Energy Engineers
76% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
74% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Water/Wastewater Engineers
74% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Environmental Engineers
73% similar · $107,110 (+62%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Interior Designers
73% similar · $67,190 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Mechanical Drafters
73% similar · $71,550 (+8%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 14Electrical Engineers
73% similar · $120,630 (+82%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Solar Energy Systems Engineers
73% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
72% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
72% similar · $106,220 (+61%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Aerospace Engineers
72% similar · $134,960 (+104%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Construction and Building Inspectors
72% similar · $74,690 (+13%) · Training or associate
- 20Industrial Engineers
71% similar · $102,440 (+55%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than architectural and civil drafters.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for architectural and civil drafters also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where architectural and civil drafters is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like architectural and civil drafters
What jobs are most similar to architectural and civil drafters?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Architects (Except Landscape and Naval) (80% similar), Electrical and Electronics Drafters (79% similar), Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (79% similar), Landscape Architects (79% similar) and Civil Engineers (78% similar).
Which jobs like architectural and civil drafters pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Aerospace Engineers ($134,960, +104%; usually a bachelor's degree), Electrical Engineers ($120,630, +82%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Environmental Engineers ($107,110, +62%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with architectural and civil drafters ($66,150). Without more preparation than architectural and civil drafters usually need: Electrical and Electronics Drafters, Construction and Building Inspectors and Mechanical Drafters.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.