Jobs Similar to Mechanical Drafters
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to mechanical drafters, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Aerospace Engineers, Electrical and Electronics Drafters and Mechanical Engineers.
Mechanical Drafters: $71,550 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. Mechanical Drafters) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aerospace Engineers | 82% | $134,960+89% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Electrical and Electronics DraftersSame group | 80% | $76,870+7% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineers | 80% | $104,110+46% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Automotive Engineers | 80% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Mechatronics Engineers | 79% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Materials Engineers | 78% | $112,860+58% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Wind Energy Engineers | 78% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Commercial and Industrial Designers | 78% | $83,910+17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Chemical Engineers | 77% | $125,040+75% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Industrial Engineers | 77% | $102,440+43% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 77% | $64,950−9% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Electrical Engineers | 76% | $120,630+69% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Microsystems Engineers | 76% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 75% | $66,120−8% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Materials Scientists | 75% | $117,790+65% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 74% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Validation Engineers | 74% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 74% | $62,750−12% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 74% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 73% | $106,220+48% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Aerospace Engineers
82% similar · $134,960 (+89%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Electrical and Electronics Drafters
80% similar · $76,870 (+7%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Mechanical Engineers
80% similar · $104,110 (+46%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Automotive Engineers
80% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Mechatronics Engineers
79% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Materials Engineers
78% similar · $112,860 (+58%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Wind Energy Engineers
78% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Commercial and Industrial Designers
78% similar · $83,910 (+17%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Chemical Engineers
77% similar · $125,040 (+75%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Industrial Engineers
77% similar · $102,440 (+43%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
77% similar · $64,950 (−9%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 12Electrical Engineers
76% similar · $120,630 (+69%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Microsystems Engineers
76% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 14Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $66,120 (−8%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 15Materials Scientists
75% similar · $117,790 (+65%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
74% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Validation Engineers
74% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
74% similar · $62,750 (−12%) · Training or associate
- 19Solar Energy Systems Engineers
74% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
73% similar · $106,220 (+48%) · 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 mechanical drafters.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for mechanical drafters also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where mechanical drafters is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Commercial and Industrial Designers (82)
- Mechatronics Engineers (80)
- Automotive Engineers (77)
- Wind Energy Engineers (75)
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers (74)
- Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar (71)
- Solar Energy Systems Engineers (71)
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (68)
- Fuel Cell Engineers (68)
- Photonics Engineers (68)
Questions about jobs like mechanical drafters
What jobs are most similar to mechanical drafters?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Aerospace Engineers (82% similar), Electrical and Electronics Drafters (80% similar), Mechanical Engineers (80% similar), Automotive Engineers (80% similar) and Mechatronics Engineers (79% similar).
Which jobs like mechanical drafters pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Aerospace Engineers ($134,960, +89%; usually a bachelor's degree), Chemical Engineers ($125,040, +75%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Electrical Engineers ($120,630, +69%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with mechanical drafters ($71,550). Without more preparation than mechanical drafters usually need: Electrical and Electronics 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.