Occupation information for

Prepare drawings and topographical and relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, pipelines, flood control projects, and water and sewerage control systems.

Currently Employed: 92,700

Yearly Projected Openings: 2,090

Typical Hourly Wage: $18.72 - $28.79

Typical Annual Salary: $39,000 - $59,900

• Produce drawings using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles and other drafting devices.
• Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations and structures.
• Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
• Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
• Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages, according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.
• Review rough sketches, drawings, specifications, and other engineering data received from civil engineers to ensure that they conform to design concepts.
• Supervise and train other technologists, technicians and drafters.
• Calculate excavation tonnage and prepare graphs and fill-hauling diagrams for use in earth-moving operations.
• Correlate, interpret, and modify data obtained from topographical surveys, well logs, and geophysical prospecting reports.
• Determine quality, cost, strength and quantity of required materials, and enter figures on materials lists.

• Curves
• Graphics or video accelerator cards
• Print servers
• Scales
• Scanners

• Computer aided design CAD software
• Graphics or photo imaging software
• Map creation software
• Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
• Word processing software