2151-NOC

Drafting technologists and technicians

(NOC 22212)
Annual Earnings
$66,739
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
College Diploma or Apprenticeship, 2 or more years
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
1,640

Career Overview

Drafting technologists and technicians prepare engineering designs, drawings and related technical information.

Drafting technologists and technicians work for:

  • Consulting and construction companies
  • Utility, resource and manufacturing companies
  • All levels of government
  • A wide range of other establishments

They work within multidisciplinary engineering teams or in support of engineers, architects or industrial designers, or they may work independently.

Duties

Drafting technologists:

  • Develop and prepare engineering designs and drawings from preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets and other data
  • Operate computer-assisted design (CAD) and drafting workstations
  • Develop and prepare design sketches
  • Complete documentation packages and produce drawing sets
  • Verify that design drawings conform to specifications and design data
  • Write technical reports
  • Prepare contracts and tender documents
  • Prepare construction specifications, costs and material estimates
  • Supervise and train other technologists, technicians and drafters

Drafting technicians:

  • Develop and prepare engineering drawings, plans, diagrams or layouts from sketches
  • Operate computer-assisted drafting equipment or a conventional drafting station

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$66,739

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$43.59/hr
Median$32.00/hr
Low$22.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

3,935

% Employed Full Time

70%
Source: 2021 Census

Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office.

Career Pathways

Senior and supervisory drafting and design technology workers require experience. Nevertheless, mobility is possible to civil, mechanical, electrical or other engineering design technologies through educational or work specialization.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Architectural draftsperson
Building information modelling (BIM) technologist
Computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) technologist
Computer-assisted drafting (CAD) technician
Design and drafting technologist
Drafting office supervisor
Drafting technician
Drafting technologist
Draftsperson
Electrical draftsperson
Electromechanical draftsperson
Electronic draftsperson
Engineering design and drafting technologist
Mechanical draftsperson
Steel detailer - drafting
Structural draftsperson
Structural steel drafter-detailer

Education, Training and Skills

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required
  • Completion of a two- to three-year college program in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field is usually required for drafting and design technologists
  • Completion of a one- to two-year college program in drafting
    or
    Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program
    or
    Four to five years of related experience plus completion of college or industry courses in drafting are usually required for drafting technicians
  • Trade certification for draftspersons is available, but voluntary in Ontario
  • Certification in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists and technicians may be required by employers
  • A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification

 

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Drafting Related
EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

63%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

60%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

59%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

55%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

55%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

54%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

54%
Active Learning

Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.

54%
Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

50%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

50%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

3,935
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 70 1.8%
Kootenay 95 2.4%
Mainland/Southwest 2,770 70.4%
North Coast and Nechako 20 0.5%
Northeast 35 0.9%
Thompson-Okanagan 430 10.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 515 13.1%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

1,640
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 20 0.6%
Kootenay 50 1.4%
Mainland/Southwest 1,070 1.2%
North Coast and Nechako Not available Not available
Northeast 10 -0.5%
Thompson-Okanagan 250 2.0%
Vancouver Island/Coast 250 1.8%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Professional, Scientific And Technical Services1,240
Construction130
Manufacturing100
Utilities30
Wholesale Trade30
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Resources