Drafting and Design Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Drafting and Design Technology equips students with advanced technical expertise to produce precise, functional drawings and digital simulations used across engineering, construction, and manufacturing industries. This program emphasizes the integration of technical precision, modern software tools, and collaborative problem-solving to translate conceptual designs into actionable blueprints.
- Specification Interpretation: Learn to analyze and apply technical documents, project requirements, and industry standards to ensure design accuracy and compliance.
- Dimensioning Techniques: Master the methods for clearly conveying size, shape, and spatial relationships in technical drawings using standardized notation.
- Drafting Calculations: Develop proficiency in performing geometric, structural, and material-based computations essential for accurate design execution.
- Material Estimation: Gain skills in assessing material needs for projects, supporting cost planning, sustainability efforts, and efficient resource allocation.
- Technical Communications: Build the ability to convey complex design information clearly through written reports, annotations, and visual documentation.
- Computer Applications: Become adept in industry-leading CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and BIM (Building Information Modeling) software for 2D drafting and 3D modeling.
- Interpersonal Communications: Strengthen collaboration skills to effectively engage with engineers, architects, clients, and tradespeople throughout the design lifecycle.
Drafting and Design Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Drafting and Design Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Drafting and Design Technology degrees, including Electrical and Electronics Drafters, Mechanical Drafters and Architectural and Civil Drafters. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 185,480 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters 17-3012 | $73,720 | $48,680 - $110,180 | 20,020 | $35.44 |
| Mechanical Drafters 17-3013 | $68,510 | $46,500 - $107,600 | 39,900 | $32.94 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters 17-3011 | $64,280 | $44,040 - $98,190 | 109,550 | $30.90 |
| Drafters, All Other 17-3019 | $62,010 | $42,170 - $96,620 | 16,010 | $29.81 |
Drafting and Design Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,033 in Alabama to $88,430 in District of Columbia—a 67% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Alaska, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 185,480 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Drafting and Design Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 99 institutions offering Drafting and Design Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Drafting and Design Technology is found at San Jacinto Community College (208 graduates), Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (122 graduates), Portland Community College (PCC) (114 graduates), Olympic College (OC) (110 graduates), and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) (106 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,743 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jacinto Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
208 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
122 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Portland Community College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
Other Award
|
114 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
| Olympic College (OC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
110 | Bremerton, Washington | Public | olympic.edu |
| Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
106 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | scad.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
102 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Lee College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
102 | Baytown, Texas | Public | lee.edu |
| South Texas College (STC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
90 | McAllen, Texas | Public | southtexascollege.edu |
| Academy of Art University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
89 | San Francisco, California | Private | academyart.edu |
| Dallas College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
89 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| Lane Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
87 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | lanecc.edu |
| College for Creative Studies (CCS) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
74 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | collegeforcreativestudies.edu |
| South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
67 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | solacc.edu |
| Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
65 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | pikespeak.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Associate's
|
64 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
63 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
63 | Elizabethtown, Kentucky | Public | elizabethtown.kctcs.edu |
| Central Community College (CCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
62 | Grand Island, Nebraska | Public | cccneb.edu |
| SOWELA Technical Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
60 | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Public | sowela.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
59 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
50 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | bluegrass.kctcs.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
46 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
43 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| Delgado Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
43 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | dcc.edu |
| River Parishes Community College (RPCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
42 | Gonzales, Louisiana | Public | rpcc.edu |
| Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
40 | Hazard, Kentucky | Public | hazard.kctcs.edu |
| Fletcher Technical Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Schriever, Louisiana | Public | fletcher.edu |
| Chemeketa Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
38 | Salem, Oregon | Public | chemeketa.edu |
| Bevill State Community College (BSCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
37 | Jasper, Alabama | Public | bscc.edu |
| Shelton State Community College (SSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | sheltonstate.edu |
| University of Arkansas Community College (UACCM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Morrilton, Arkansas | Public | uaccm.edu |
| Chattahoochee Technical College |
Other Award
|
34 | Marietta, Georgia | Public | chattahoocheetech.edu |
| Alvin Community College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
32 | Alvin, Texas | Public | alvincollege.edu |
| Brazosport College (BC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
32 | Lake Jackson, Texas | Public | brazosport.edu |
| Drexel University |
Master's
|
31 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
31 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| Butte College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
29 | Oroville, California | Public | butte.edu |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
29 | Paducah, Kentucky | Public | westkentucky.kctcs.edu |
| State Technical College of Missouri (State Tech) |
Associate's
|
29 | Linn, Missouri | Public | statetechmo.edu |
| Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | otc.edu |
| Eastern Arizona College (EAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Thatcher, Arizona | Public | eac.edu |
| Community College of Denver (CCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
27 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ccd.edu |
| Everett Community College (EvCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
26 | Everett, Washington | Public | everettcc.edu |
| York County Community College (YCCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Wells, Maine | Public | yccc.edu |
| Stark State College |
Other Award
|
25 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| North Central Texas College (NCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
25 | Gainesville, Texas | Public | nctc.edu |
| Liceo de Arte y Tecnologia (LAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | liceo.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Public | pct.edu |
| Palomar College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | San Marcos, California | Public | www2.palomar.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Other Award
|
24 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Grayson College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Denison, Texas | Public | grayson.edu |
| Marymount University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Arlington, Virginia | Private | marymount.edu |
| Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Wadley, Alabama | Public | suscc.edu |
| Coastal Alabama Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | Bay Minette, Alabama | Public | coastalalabama.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College (MCC-KC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | mcckc.edu |
| Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) |
Associate's
|
22 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lit.edu |
| Fresno City College (FCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
21 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnocitycollege.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
21 | Morristown, Tennessee | Public | tcatmorristown.edu |
| Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Monroe, Louisiana | Public | ladelta.edu |
| Suffolk County Community College (SUNY) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
20 | Selden, New York | Public | sunysuffolk.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
20 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| Pima Community College (PCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | pima.edu |
| Arkansas State University (ASU-Beebe) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
|
19 | Beebe, Arkansas | Public | asub.edu |
| San Joaquin Delta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Stockton, California | Public | deltacollege.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
19 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wsutech.edu |
| Angelina College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Lufkin, Texas | Public | angelina.edu |
| Texas Southmost College (TSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Brownsville, Texas | Public | tsc.edu |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
19 | Bentonville, Arkansas | Public | nwacc.edu |
| George C Wallace Community College (WCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Dothan, Alabama | Public | wallace.edu |
| Golden West College (GWC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Huntington Beach, California | Public | goldenwestcollege.edu |
| MiraCosta College |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
18 | Oceanside, California | Public | miracosta.edu |
| ITI Technical College (ITI) |
Associate's
|
18 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Private | iticollege.edu |
| Lorenzo Walker Technical College (LWTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | Naples, Florida | Public | lwtc.edu |
| Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | Lacombe, Louisiana | Public | northshorecollege.edu |
| Jones County Junior College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Ellisville, Mississippi | Public | jcjc.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College Area (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | mccneb.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Seward County Community College (SCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
16 | Liberal, Kansas | Public | sccc.edu |
| Holmes Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
16 | Goodman, Mississippi | Public | holmescc.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
16 | Shelbyville, Tennessee | Public | tcatshelbyville.edu |
| Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Athens, Texas | Public | tvcc.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville (TCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
16 | Nashville, Tennessee | Public | tcatnashville.edu |
| St Charles Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Cottleville, Missouri | Public | stchas.edu |
| Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Rainsville, Alabama | Public | nacc.edu |
| East Los Angeles College (ELAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Monterey Park, California | Public | elac.edu |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Rome, Georgia | Public | gntc.edu |
| Hinds Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
15 | Raymond, Mississippi | Public | hindscc.edu |
| Athens Technical College (Athens Tech) |
Other Award
|
15 | Athens, Georgia | Public | athenstech.edu |
| Technical College of the Rockies (TCR) |
Other Award
|
14 | Delta, Colorado | Public | tcr.edu |
| Central Carolina Technical College (CCTC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Sumter, South Carolina | Public | cctech.edu |
| South Plains College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
14 | Levelland, Texas | Public | southplainscollege.edu |
| Temple College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
14 | Temple, Texas | Public | templejc.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
14 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District (MSJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | San Jacinto, California | Public | msjc.edu |
| Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) |
Associate's
|
13 | South Portland, Maine | Public | smccme.edu |
| Clark State College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Springfield, Ohio | Public | clarkstate.edu |
| Amarillo College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Amarillo, Texas | Public | actx.edu |
| Citrus College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Glendora, California | Public | citruscollege.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Drafting and Design Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Drafting and Design Technology degree?
Salaries for Drafting and Design Technology graduates vary by role and location. Electrical and Electronics Drafters earn a median of $73,720 annually, while Mechanical Drafters earn around $68,510. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $88,430 compared to $53,033 in Alabama. Approximately 185,480 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Drafting and Design Technology programs?
Currently 224 accredited institutions offer Drafting and Design Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include San Jacinto Community College (208 graduates), Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (122 graduates), and Portland Community College (PCC) (114 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Drafting and Design Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 5,634 in 2010 to a peak of 4,595 in 2020, before declining slightly to 4,395 in 2023-24. This represents a 22% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Drafting and Design Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Electrical and Electronics Drafters, Mechanical Drafters, and Architectural and Civil Drafters. Related occupations employ approximately 185,480 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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