Architectural and Civil Drafters
The short answer
This job is expected to meaningfully change. AI can already assist with or automate many of its tasks. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to hold steady over the next decade, with about 689 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the most exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. That doesn't mean the job goes away—it means more of its tasks are the kind AI can help with.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with about half of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the most exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
The score comes from the real, day-to-day tasks of this job—not a guess about the job as a whole. Below are the tasks that matter most in this job, split by whether AI can help with them.
AI can help with or automate about 96% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Tasks AI can't do much of
Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
Very similar work+30% pay699 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 30% more—$102,063 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree, plus internship/residency.
Getting ready typically takes more than four years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- Building and Construction
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
New skills to build
- Operations Analysis
- Fine Arts
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- Economics and Accounting
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Very similar workslightly less pay120 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$75,855 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires an associate's degree.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Building and Construction
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
New skills to build
- Administrative
- Mechanical
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Chemistry
- Customer and Personal Service
Civil Engineers
Very similar work+36% pay1,146 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 36% more—$106,668 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- Building and Construction
- English Language
- Mathematics
New skills to build
- Physics
- Operations Analysis
- Science
- Problem Sensitivity
- Chemistry
Electrical Engineers
Very similar work+56% pay4,250 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 56% more—$122,345 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mathematics
New skills to build
- Physics
- Problem Sensitivity
- Production and Processing
- Speaking
- Written Comprehension
Industrial Engineers
Very similar work+35% pay837 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 35% more—$105,509 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mathematics
New skills to build
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Psychology
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speaking
Electrical and Electronics Drafters
Very similar work+2% pay1,388 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 2% more—$80,006 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires an associate's degree.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mathematics
New skills to build
- Administrative
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Very similar work+3% pay96 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 3% more—$80,402 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires an associate's degree.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- Design
- Mathematics
- English Language
New skills to build
- Mechanical
- Repairing
- Equipment Maintenance
- Multilimb Coordination
- Operation and Control
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Similar work+1% pay1,881 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 1% more—$79,198 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires an associate's degree.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- Design
- Mathematics
- English Language
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Troubleshooting
- Equipment Maintenance
- Mechanical
- Telecommunications
Mechanical Engineers
Similar work+34% pay666 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 34% more—$105,303 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- English Language
New skills to build
- Mechanical
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Science
- Production and Processing
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
Similar work+56% pay140 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 56% more—$122,513 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mathematics
New skills to build
- Equipment Selection
- Equipment Maintenance
- Operation and Control
- Repairing
- Telecommunications
Mechanical Drafters
Similar workabout the same pay197 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about the same—$78,636 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires an associate's degree.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mathematics
New skills to build
- Mechanical
- Physics
- Production and Processing
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Similar work+128% pay1,869 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 128% more—$178,657 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more of experience.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
New skills to build
- Chemistry
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Problem Sensitivity
Commercial and Industrial Designers
Somewhat similar work+18% pay148 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 18% more—$92,152 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Visualization
New skills to build
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Operations Analysis
- Technology Design
- Originality
Construction and Building Inspectors
Somewhat similar work+4% pay5,482 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 4% more—$81,618 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with 5 years or more of experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Design
- Oral Comprehension
- English Language
New skills to build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Multilimb Coordination
Construction Managers
Somewhat similar work+102% pay2,170 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 102% more—$157,969 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Building and Construction
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
New skills to build
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Economics and Accounting
- Production and Processing
- Management of Financial Resources
- Mechanical
Software Developers
Somewhat similar work+118% pay6,726 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 118% more—$170,831 vs your $78,396 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Oral Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
- Near Vision
New skills to build
- Programming
- Technology Design
- Systems Evaluation
- Operations Analysis