Civil Drafters

Wages
In 2021, the average annual wage in a Alabama was $54,230 with most people making between $29,260 and $78,660.
Wages by Industry
  • Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services $48,450.00
  • Residential Building Construction $45,500.00
  • Nonresidential Building Construction $48,610.00
  • Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing $46,560.00
Education Required
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Common Majors
  • Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General
  • CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
  • Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD
About the job

Prepare drawings and topographical and relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, pipelines, flood control projects, and water and sewerage control systems.

What you'll do
    • Calculate excavation tonnage and prepare graphs and fill-hauling diagrams for use in earth-moving operations.
    • Calculate weights, volumes, and stress factors and their implications for technical aspects of designs.
    • Correlate, interpret, and modify data obtained from topographical surveys, well logs, and geophysical prospecting reports.
    • Determine quality, cost, strength and quantity of required materials, and enter figures on materials lists.
    • Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.
    • Locate and identify symbols located on topographical surveys to denote geological and geophysical formations or oil field installations.
    • Plot characteristics of boreholes for oil and gas wells from photographic subsurface survey recordings and other data, representing depth, degree and direction of inclination.
    • Review rough sketches, drawings, specifications, and other engineering data received from civil engineers to ensure that they conform to design concepts
    • Supervise and train other technologists, technicians and drafters.
    • Supervise or conduct field surveys, inspections or technical investigations to obtain data required to revise construction drawings.
Things you need to know
    • Design – Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
    • Mathematics – Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • English Language – Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
    • Engineering and Technology – Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
    • Building and Construction – Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Abilities you'll need to have
    • 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.
    • Reading Comprehension – Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
    • Writing – Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
    • Mathematics – Using mathematics to solve problems.
    • Speaking – Talking to others to convey information effectively.
    • Critical Thinking – Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
    • Active Learning – Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.