by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in General Drafting & Design Technology explores Drafting And Design Technology/technician, General. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Generally Apply Technical Skills To Create Working Drawings And Computer Simulations For A Variety Of Applications. Includes Instruction In Specification Interpretation, Dimensioning Techniques, Drafting Calculations, Material Estimation, Technical Communications, Computer Applications, And Interpersonal Communications. Read on to learn the key facts every general drafting & design technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general drafting & design technology programs.
Across the country, general drafting & design technology draws strong interest, with 4,395 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Drafting & Design Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 224 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general drafting & design technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general drafting & design technology programs later in this article.
Studies in General Drafting & Design Technology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general drafting & design technology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a general drafting & design technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general drafting & design technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general drafting & design technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 985 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,130 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 256 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,925 |
People currently working in careers related to general drafting & design technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 40.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 15.3% |
| Some college courses | 7.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.4% |
| Master’s degree | 2.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general drafting & design technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in general drafting & design technology prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general drafting & design technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general drafting & design technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 161,833 | 12.3% |
| Mechanical Drafters | 127,074 | 12.6% |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | 114,684 | 13.5% |
| Drafters, All Other | 32,528 | -1.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of general drafting & design technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,976 |
| 4 years | $45,788 |
| 5 years | $51,867 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general drafting & design technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general drafting & design technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Drafters, All Other | $114,777 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $109,781 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $82,779 |
| Mechanical Drafters | $78,252 |
With 224 different general drafting & design technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general drafting & design technology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in general drafting & design technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
