California · Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Best institutions to study Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in California

The Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program equips students with the skills needed to create detailed design drawings and specifications for various engineering projects. This program is ideal for individuals…

Institutions
54
offering CIP 15.13
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
986
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$48,978
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$37,485
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
41%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mechanical Drafters
$86,750
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 1 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Academy of Art University
San Francisco Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$48,97818634%$40,294$45,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Mechanical Drafters (SOC 17-3013).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-6.5%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~3,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$68,510
typically Associate's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive LearningActive ListeningMathematicsReading ComprehensionSpeaking

What Mechanical Drafters earn in California

Jobs in California
3,640
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$86,750
median $82,510
Best-paying metro
$101,310
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Related careers

Architectural and Civil Drafters
$80,360 avg · 11,400 jobs
Mechanical Drafters
$86,750 avg · 3,640 jobs
Electrical and Electronics Drafters
$89,900 avg · 2,730 jobs
Drafters, All Other
$75,890 avg · 1,750 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in California.

Which Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Academy of Art University tops the list at $48,978. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in California is $86,750 (median $82,510), across about 3,640 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program?+

The Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program equips students with the skills needed to create detailed design drawings and specifications for various engineering projects. This program is ideal for individuals…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active learning, active listening, mathematics, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Mechanical Drafters?+

The national job outlook is about -6.5% growth with around 3,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in other statesIndianaMissouriUtahOregonKentuckyMichiganMinnesotaIdaho

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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