Best degree programs for Electrical and Electronics Drafters, ranked by enrollment
7 college programs and 681 schools train Electrical and Electronics Drafters. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $76,870 median wage, 17,920 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
7 college programs at 681 schools train electrical and electronics drafters, graduating 18,118 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician. The job pays a median of $76,870 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About electrical and electronics drafters
Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
7 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 15.0303 | 7,489 | 41.3% | 358 | $59,859 | $15,372 |
| 2 | CIP 15.1301 | 4,212 | 23.2% | 217 | $44,946 | $12,992 |
| 3 | CIP 15.1302 | 3,206 | 17.7% | 179 | $44,946 | $12,992 |
| 4 | CIP 15.0403 | 3,069 | 16.9% | 130 | $60,286 | $15,383 |
| 5 | CIP 15.1305 | 76 | 0.4% | 12 | $44,946 | $12,992 |
| 6 | CIP 15.1307 | 62 | 0.3% | 13 | $44,946 | $12,992 |
| 7 | CIP 15.0306 | 4 | 0.0% | 1 | $59,859 | $15,372 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What electrical and electronics drafters earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $80,620 | 1,840 | 1.13× | 45 | 2,371 |
| Illinois | $68,310 | 150 | 0.21× | 29 | 1,581 |
| Florida | $73,010 | 660 | 0.58× | 32 | 1,407 |
| Virginia | $64,650 | 280 | 0.59× | 26 | 1,366 |
| California | $78,310 | 2,730 | 1.30× | 53 | 980 |
| Ohio | $80,840 | 510 | 0.80× | 29 | 852 |
| Arizona | $73,080 | 570 | 1.53× | 11 | 756 |
| Georgia | $80,620 | 470 | 0.83× | 18 | 657 |
| Indiana | $80,100 | 360 | 0.96× | 10 | 530 |
| New York | $77,830 | 850 | 0.76× | 31 | 516 |
| Tennessee | $77,180 | 340 | 0.91× | 23 | 483 |
| North Carolina | $81,960 | 430 | 0.75× | 31 | 477 |
| Michigan | $73,860 | 380 | 0.74× | 27 | 421 |
| Missouri | $76,690 | 420 | 1.25× | 12 | 360 |
| Washington | $72,250 | 390 | 0.96× | 18 | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,720 | 500 | 0.71× | 30 | 338 |
| Wisconsin | $75,650 | 470 | 1.40× | 16 | 302 |
| Colorado | $79,300 | 750 | 2.27× | 9 | 288 |
| Louisiana | $62,550 | 150 | 0.68× | 11 | 287 |
| Alabama | $51,650 | 300 | 1.23× | 13 | 270 |
| Minnesota | $77,330 | 250 | 0.74× | 9 | 255 |
| Kentucky | $79,050 | 80 | 0.35× | 9 | 251 |
| Utah | $79,360 | 290 | 1.47× | 9 | 241 |
| Iowa | $74,470 | 180 | 1.02× | 12 | 227 |
| Oregon | $78,170 | 330 | 1.44× | 10 | 210 |
| Mississippi | $58,780 | 110 | 0.83× | 10 | 185 |
| Oklahoma | $69,520 | 290 | 1.47× | 9 | 184 |
| Idaho | $81,590 | 100 | 1.03× | 6 | 174 |
| New Jersey | $77,600 | 240 | 0.48× | 13 | 162 |
| South Carolina | $76,440 | 290 | 1.09× | 14 | 145 |
| Nebraskamoderate | $59,570 | 190 | 1.63× | 4 | 126 |
| Kansas | $60,730 | 210 | 1.24× | 10 | 112 |
| Maine | $75,100 | 110 | 1.55× | 6 | 107 |
| Maryland | $75,680 | 380 | 1.20× | 7 | 96 |
| North Dakotalimited | — | 90 | 1.90× | 1 | 95 |
| Connecticutmoderate | $66,980 | 430 | 2.22× | 3 | 78 |
| Nevadamoderate | $71,310 | 250 | 1.38× | 3 | 59 |
| Massachusetts | $87,290 | 470 | 1.13× | 7 | 46 |
| South Dakotamoderate | $50,840 | 40 | 0.76× | 4 | 35 |
| New Mexico | $101,330 | 390 | 3.93× | 5 | 34 |
| Delawarelimited | $63,460 | 60 | 1.03× | 2 | 25 |
| Wyominglimited | $64,690 | 40 | 1.12× | 2 | 21 |
| New Hampshiremoderate | $102,070 | 220 | 2.78× | 3 | 16 |
| Alaskalimited | — | 80 | 2.01× | 2 | 15 |
| Hawaiilimited | $68,050 | 80 | 1.12× | 1 | 9 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Draft detail and assembly drawings of design components, circuitry or printed circuit boards, using computer-assisted equipment or standard drafting techniques and devices.
- Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications, or cross-sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew.
- Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets to be checked by an engineer or an architect.
- Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations.
- Consult with engineers to discuss or interpret design concepts, or determine requirements of detailed working drawings.
- Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
- Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as distances to be spanned by wire and cable.
- Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
Skills
- Active Listening3.6
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Writing3.5
- Reading Comprehension3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Speaking3.3
- Monitoring3.0
- Mathematics2.8
Knowledge areas
- Design4.4
- Engineering and Technology4.3
- Computers and Electronics4.2
- English Language3.9
- Mathematics3.6
- Administrative3.5
Abilities
- Written Comprehension4.0
- Near Vision3.9
- Oral Comprehension3.9
- Visualization3.6
- Oral Expression3.6
- Written Expression3.6
Core activities
- Working with Computers4.8
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment4.7
- Getting Information4.5
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.4
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.2
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards4.0
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Electrical
Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 7 majors mapped to Electrical and Electronics Drafters7 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 15.0303Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician
- 15.0306Integrated Circuit Design Technology/Technician
- 15.0403Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician
- 15.1301Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General
- 15.1302CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
- 15.1305Electrical/Electronics Drafting and Electrical/Electronics CAD/CADD
- 15.13073-D Modeling and Design Technology/Technician
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become an Electrical?+
Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician, which awarded 7,489 degrees in 2024-25, 41.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Electrical?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 7 programs to this occupation. The largest are Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians. Together they graduate about 18,118 people a year.
How much do electrical and electronics drafters earn?+
The median is $76,870 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $50,040 at the 10th percentile to $120,290 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for electrical and electronics drafters growing?+
BLS projects a -5.6% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 1,700 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
681 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 7 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do electrical and electronics drafters work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Drafter, Electrical Designer, Computer-Aided Design Operator, Staking Technician (Staking Tech) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 17-3012.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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