Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-3013.00
Mechanical Drafters
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.
- US jobs
- 39,960
- Median wage
- $71,550 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of mechanical drafters?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Architecture and engineering: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: HWE-Bench, 79.9% of tasks completed.
Direct evidence that disagrees: Parametric CAD Bench V3, 7% of tasks fully completed (Perfect tasks).
63% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 51%Create visual designs or displaysMeasured
- 13%Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical dataMeasured
- 8%Design electrical or electronic systems or equipmentNot measured
- 7%Communicate with others about specifications or project detailsNot measured
- 6%Evaluate the quality or accuracy of dataNot measured
- 6%Confer with clients to determine needs or order specificationsNot measured
- 5%Supervise personnel activitiesNot measured
- 4%Compile records, documentation, or other dataNot measured
Benchmarks for this occupation
These benchmarks name this occupation in their job mapping.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 56.9%GPT-6 Astra (max) with Codex 0.154.0 · 21 Sep 2026Emerging
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 58.2%Codex + GPT-6 Astra (max) · 3 Sep 2026Emerging
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
- 1846 EloClaude Opus 5.5 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort, Default Fallback) · 23 Sep 2026Unrated
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.
- Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials.
- Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components.
- Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
- Create bills of materials.
- Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
- Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
- Position instructions and comments onto drawings.
- Coordinate with and consult other workers to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems.
- Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment.
- Confer with customer representatives to review schematics and answer questions pertaining to installation of systems.
Other job titles for this occupation (44)
CAD Designer (Computer Aided Design Designer) · CAD Operator (Computer Aided Design Operator) · CAM Specialist (Computer Aided Manufacturing Specialist) · Design Drafter · Die Designer · Drafter · Drafting Technician (Drafting Tech) · Mechanical Designer · Tool Design Drafter · Tooling Designer · Aeronautical Drafter · Auto Design Drafter (Automotive Design Drafter) · Auto Design Layout Drafter (Automotive Design Layout Drafter) · AutoCAD Designer (Auto Computer-Aided Design Designer) · AutoCAD Drafter (Auto Computer-Aided Design Drafter) · AutoCAD Technician (Auto Computer-Aided Design Technician) · CAD Designer (Computer-Aided Design Designer) · CAD Drafter (Computer Aided Design Drafter) · CAD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design Drafter) · CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman) · CAD Draughter (Computer Aided Design Draughter) · CAD Operator (Computer-Aided Design Operator) · CAD Technician (Computer Aided Design Technician) · CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Drafter) · Controls Designer · Design Checker · Detail Drafter · Furniture Detailer · Gage Designer · Installation Drafter · Machine Design Checker · Mechanical Design Drafter · Mechanical Design Technician (Mechanical Design Tech) · Mechanical Detailer · Mechanical Draughter · Mechanical Piping Designer · Mold Designer · Patent Drafter · Pattern Drafter · Piping Drafter · Plastic Mold Designer · Technical Designer · Tool and Die Designer · Tool Designer