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Drafting Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Other activities as needed Position Summary Supervises and leads Drafters, responsible for all design work for Transmission, Distribution and Substation along with records that maintains the design ...

Other activities as needed Position Summary Supervises and leads Drafters, responsible for all design work for Transmission, Distribution and Substation along with records that maintains the design ...

SW Drafting Technician

Dixon, CA ยท On-site

$28 - $35/hr

SW Drafting Technician Location: Dixon, CA Job type: Full-time/On-site Pay Range: $28 to $35 per hour Hiring Company: Team 360 Staffing About the Role Team 360 Staffing is seeking a detail-oriented ...

SW Drafting Technician

Dixon, CA ยท On-site

$28 - $35/hr

Fully trained in the use of AutoCad, and experience in 3D Drafting with software such as Solidworks or Autocad Inventor. Minimum five years' experience working in a network environment. Proficiency ...

AUTOCAD 2014 Drafting

Sacramento, CA

$24 - $32.25/hr

AUTOCAD 2014 Drafting Location: Sacramento CA Mandatory Requirements Minimum 5 or more years of experience in utilizing AutoCad 2014 and previous versions to create or edit engineering drawings ...

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Drafting information

See California salary details

$14

$24

$36

How much do drafting jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for drafting in California is $24.15, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $25.62 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is there a demand for drafting?

Drafting is a skilled profession with steady demand in industries such as architecture, engineering, and construction. Proficiency in CAD software and certifications can enhance job prospects, which are expected to grow as infrastructure and building projects increase.

What is the difference between Drafting vs CAD Technician?

AspectDraftingCAD Technician
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; technical trainingHigh school diploma; technical certification or associate degree often preferred
Work EnvironmentArchitectural, engineering, or manufacturing offices; on-siteDesign studios, engineering firms, manufacturing companies; computer-based work
Industry UsageUsed across architecture, engineering, manufacturingPrimarily in engineering, architecture, and product design
Work FocusCreating technical drawings manually or with basic softwareDeveloping detailed 3D models and drawings using CAD software

While both Drafting and CAD Technicians create technical drawings, Drafting typically involves manual or basic digital drawing skills, whereas CAD Technicians focus on advanced 3D modeling and detailed digital designs using specialized software. The roles often overlap, but CAD Technicians usually require more technical training in CAD tools.

What are some typical challenges drafters face when working on multidisciplinary project teams?

Drafters often collaborate with architects, engineers, and construction professionals, which can present challenges such as coordinating design changes, managing conflicting feedback, and adhering to tight deadlines. Effective communication and attention to detail are crucial, as errors can lead to costly revisions. Staying up-to-date with the latest CAD software and industry standards also helps drafters integrate seamlessly with diverse teams and deliver accurate technical drawings.

What is a career in drafting?

A career in drafting involves creating technical drawings and plans used in construction, manufacturing, and engineering projects. Draftspeople use computer-aided design (CAD) software and must have strong attention to detail and knowledge of industry standards. The role often requires technical training or certification and can lead to opportunities in various engineering and design fields.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a drafter, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Drafter, you need strong technical drawing skills, attention to detail, and a background in drafting or engineering technology, often supported by an associate degree or certification. Proficiency in CAD software such as AutoCAD, Revit, or SolidWorks is typically required. Strong communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate with architects and engineers help drafters excel. These skills ensure accurate technical plans, effective teamwork, and the successful translation of concepts into precise construction or manufacturing documents.

What is drafting?

Drafting is the process of creating detailed technical drawings and plans used in construction, manufacturing, architecture, and engineering. Drafters use specialized software or manual techniques to produce precise representations of structures, machinery, or systems. These drawings serve as blueprints for builders, engineers, and manufacturers, ensuring projects are constructed accurately and safely. Drafting is essential for communicating complex design ideas and specifications.
What are the most commonly searched types of Drafting jobs in California? The most popular types of Drafting jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Drafting jobs? Cities in California with the most Drafting job openings:
Infographic showing various Drafting job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $50,241 per year, or $24.2 per hour.

Supervisor, Design Drafting

PG&E Corporation

Fresno, CA โ€ข Hybrid

$128K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Requisition ID # 172267 

Job Category: Engineering / Science 

Job Level: Supervisor

Business Unit: Strategy & Growth

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Oakland; Fresno; West Sacramento

Department Overview

The Substation Electric Engineering Services team is responsible for electrical project engineering and design work for PG&E substations. This group is an integral part of the Substation Engineering Services organization which is responsible for the engineering and project management of substation projects. The team is responsible for the following:

  • Transmission Substation engineering and design
  • Distribution Substation engineering and design
  • Technical assistance on feasibility studies
  • Technical coordination with Transmission Line Engineering and design
  • Technical consultation (project options)
  • Project scope, detailed estimates, material lists
  • Equipment specifications
  • Construction support
  • Other activities as needed 

Position Summary

Supervises and leads Drafters, responsible for all design work for Transmission, Distribution and Substation along with records that maintains the design work. Establishes clear performance expectations, monitors, and follows up as required. Plans work so key business goals (work resource scheduling, invoicing) are met. Instills customer focus in workgroup while identifying and implementing process improvements.

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned location two to three days a week.

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job.  The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, and internal equity.  Although, we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed towards the middle or entry point of the range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors.

A reasonable salary range is:โ€‹

Bay Area Minimum:  $128,000

Bay Area Mid:$173,000

Bay Area Maximum: $218,000

California Minimum: $122,000

California Mid:$164,000

California Maximum: $207,000

Job Responsibilities

  • Ensures timeliness, efficiency and responsiveness to internal customers' requests. Ensures quality and consistency of the products.
  • Recruit/select, communicate expectations, foster employee engagement, coach, develop, mentor, recognize and reward employees in order to drive performance and results. Manages Union employees
  • Takes ownership and appropriate actions to address issues for energized employees.
  • Provides leadership to the Design Drafting group; attracts and retains skilled and appropriate staffing levels to meet department objectives.
  • Works collaboratively with other departments/divisions to share resources and best practices.
  • Fosters positive internal relationships by facilitating work of others; looks for process improvements and contributes to the team.
  • Involves employees in addressing issues, which affect them, and follows through on commitments.
  • Provides leadership by communicating business goals to workgroup on a regular basis.

Qualifications

Minimum:

  • High School or GED-General Educational Development-GED Diploma
  • Job-related experience, 5 years

Desired:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Engineering Technology
  • Leadership experience

 Technical Experience

  • 8โ€“12 years of utility substation design and drafting.
  • Experience with:
  • AutoCAD / MicroStation / Bentley Substation
  • High-voltage substations (12 kVโ€“500 kV)
  • Physical layouts, grounding, conduit, cable routing, steel, foundations, and equipment drawings.
  •  Strong knowledge of:
    • Utility drafting standards
    • NESC, IEEE, and utility design standards
    • Document control and as-built processes
    • Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC). ๏ฟผ
  • Leadership Requirements
    • Prior experience leading or supervising designers and drafters.
    • Ability to:
      • Assign and prioritize work.
      • Mentor and develop employees.
      • Coordinate with engineers, project managers, construction, and field operations.
      • Drive productivity, quality, and continuous improvement.