Drafters use computer-assisted design (CAD) software to convert rough sketches and specifications from engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.

2021 Median Salary
$60,290

Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Declining

Typical Entry-Level Education
Associate’s degree

This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on June 29, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/drafters.htm.

Civil engineers conceive, design, build, supervise, operate, construct, and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sectors, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and water supply and sewage treatment systems. Civil engineers must consider a wide range of factors when planning and implementing these projects, including community master plans, government regulations, potential environmental hazards, and construction costs. They must also conduct tests on soils and building materials to ensure the project will be structurally sound. They also oversee the surveying team and its work.

2021 Median Salary
$88,050

Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Average

Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree

This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on June 29, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm.

Civil engineering technicians work under the supervision of licensed civil engineers to help plan, design, and build highways, bridges, and other infrastructure projects for commercial, industrial, residential, and land development projects. They spend significant amounts of time on construction sites, taking soil and other samples for analysis in a laboratory and supervising and evaluating the work of contractors to ensure the civil engineers’ plans are followed and work meets all design specifications and codes. They also assist with preparing cost estimates and documenting project activities and costs.

2021 Median Salary
$58,320

Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Slower than average

Typical Entry-Level Education
Associate’s degree

This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on June 29, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit . https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineering-technicians.htm.

Industrial engineers focus on how to get the work done most efficiently, balancing many factors, such as time, number of workers needed, available technology, product quality requirements, workers’ safety, environmental concerns, and cost. They analyze cost and quality data, as well as business processes and workflows, to re-engineer manufacturing and other business processes. They develop new workflows, management control systems, and quality control systems to address any identified problems and enhance quality and output while controlling costs.

2021 Median Salary
$95,300

Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Faster than average

Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree

This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on June 29, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/industrial-engineers.htm.

Industrial engineering technicians assist industrial engineers in creating systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service. They prepare machinery and equipment layouts, plan workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs.

2021 Median Salary
$60,220

Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Slower than average

Typical Entry-Level Education
Associate’s degree

This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on June 29, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit . bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/industrial-engineering-technicians.htm.

Mechanical engineers are problem-solvers who create new products and devices to produce power, maintain climate control in buildings, move people, improve manufacturing processes, or solve other challenges. They analyze the challenge, develop a prototype of a product to solve it, test these prototypes, refine and finalize the design, and oversee the manufacturing of the final product.

2021 Median Salary
$95,300

Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Average

Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree

This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on June 29, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit  bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm.

Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture machines and other devices. The work primarily in factories or in research and development labs.

2021 Median Salary
$60,460

Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Average

Typical Entry-Level Education
Associate’s degree

This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on June 29, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit  bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineering-technicians.htm.

Surveying and mapping technicians assist surveyors and cartographers in making maps and carrying out site surveys to accurately record property and jurisdictional boundaries, bodies of water, elevation, and other geographical features.

Surveying technicians spend much of their day outside, searching for prior survey points such as boundary stones, operating surveying equipment, and marking boundaries. Either onsite or back at the office, they enter data into software so that the surveyor may prepare a site map.

Mapping technicians help cartographers (map makers) produce and update maps, using computers to combine data from different sources. Mapping technicians may use drones to take aerial photos that help inform the map-making process, and they may use software such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

2021 Median Salary
$46,910

Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Slower than average

Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent

This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on June 29, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit  bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/surveying-and-mapping-technicians.htm.