Drafting

[chrisdavis]

Anybody work in drafting? I am thinking about changing careers, and drafting is one of the options that I may be looking into. A couple of questions I had were about the payscale, and how hard is it to get an entry level position.

[Outphase]

Dad is a Mechanical Engineer, he does the more advanced levels of it, but I know drafting dudes get paid anywhere from $15-45/hour depending on your skill and where you go to. From the last time I talked to my dad, he said they're still using AutoCad, but I think CATIA is the next big thing.

Drafting is not a big money job, I'd definetly say it's a temporary job/between job to work up until you finish a major degree in Engineering, unless you plan to do other jobs at the same time, like sell stuff.

Do you have any job experience in the field? If you are looking to make money, Engineering is the field to get into...always need people to build things.

[chrisdavis]

I dont have any experience in the field. I troubleshoot and repair industrial machinery. I am heading back to school and was considering a change in major but I think Im going to finish my degree for industrial systems and then move on to engineering.

[53caddy]

well i know people that uses right now is inventor solidworks and their is another that i cant think of right now i am right now in school to be a ME so i already had to take most of the programs or learn kind of how to do it

[dELfONiK]

Drafting is not a big money job, I'd definetly say it's a temporary job/between job to work up until you finish a major degree in Engineering, unless you plan to do other jobs at the same time, like sell stuff.

That's exactly why I became a drafter... It was so I could have a decent job while I was in school for a major degree. I've been a drafter for 2 years, and have about 3.5 years left til I get my bachelors.

[ZakDC5]

Anybody work in drafting? I am thinking about changing careers, and drafting is one of the options that I may be looking into. A couple of questions I had were about the payscale, and how hard is it to get an entry level position.

I'm a drafter. we do structural and mech. engineering drafting. right now all i do is details and shop drawing and I make $20 per hour. Thats pretty high for entry but the owner is my God father so I kinda have the hook up. Anyways, I love it and it's perfect for me as I'm going to school for civil engineering.

[Outphase]

It's pretty good money for the 'initiation' for the field. and yeah, SolidWorks 2000 was the last program I touched up on...I am not really interested in it, my dad tried to get me into it, but not my bag of beans.

Good luck with it , man!