Mechanical Drafters
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.
39,960 people do this job in the US. $71,550 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 97%
- 2%
- 1%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 16%. Today's estimate: 24%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 16 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 17% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 27%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 17% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | 9%Half by Aug 2027 | |
| Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 17% | 1 work day3.3 h to 2.5 work days | 5%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components.Done daily by most who do it. | 17% | 1.6 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 2%Half by Feb 2028 | |
| Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 9% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | 46%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Lay out, draw, and reproduce illustrations for reference manuals and technical publications to describe operation and maintenance of mechanical systems.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 5% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 17%Half by Apr 2027 | |
| Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 1.3 h25 min to 4.2 h | 69%Half by now | |
| Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 1.7 h25 min to 4.2 h | 57%Half by now | |
| Coordinate with and consult other workers to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems.Done daily by most who do it. | 2% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | 87%Half by now | |
| Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials.Done daily by most who do it. | 2% | 38 min13 min to 1.7 h | 95%Half by now | |
| Create bills of materials.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 2% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | 77%Half by now | |
| Supervise and train other drafters, technologists, and technicians.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters38% now, 83% by 2028
- Architectural and Civil Drafters22% now, 87% by 2028
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians16% now, 49% by 2028
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic18% now, 22% by 2028
- Commercial and Industrial Designers12% now, 66% by 2028
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic10% now, 13% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services7,040 people
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)4,490 people
- Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)4,260 people
- Building Equipment Contractors3,060 people
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)1,310 people
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).