Compare A Computer Hardware Engineer ↔ B Architectural Drafter
ShareYour route
2 moves · -$100,540 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
Gates on this route
- Move 1, to Electrical Drafter: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
- Move 2, to Architectural Drafter: bachelor's degree (O*NET: most in Architectural Drafter hold one), experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET, most common).
Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Computer Hardware Engineer to Electrical Drafter -$83,240 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Electrical and Electronics Drafters as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.84 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- Gates checked: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Electrical Drafter to Architectural Drafter -$17,300 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Architectural and Civil Drafters as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.86.
- Gates: bachelor's degree (O*NET: most in Architectural Drafter hold one), experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET, most common).
Side by side
All Architectural and Civil Drafters: Texas median $63,320, $100,540 less a year than all Computer Hardware Engineers ($163,860), every experience level.
Computer Hardware Engineer: 76% work more than 40 hours a week, about 3 times the share for Architectural Drafter (26%).
Occupation-wide pay all experience levels, not this level's pay; Texas median, base pay, $0 to $300k
Gates on the route: Architectural Drafter: bachelor's degree (O*NET: most in Architectural Drafter hold one), experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET, most common).
Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation
A +17.4% Texas, 230 openings a year
B +15.1% Texas, 1,390 openings a year
Over 40 h a week
Physical load our index from O*NET, 1 to 5; A B; largest differences first
1.3 / 5+0.01.4 / 5
- Outdoors, all weather+0.59Outdoors, all weather: A 1.37, B 1.96
- High places+0.57High places: A 1.07, B 1.64
- Hazardous conditions-0.22Hazardous conditions: A 1.43, B 1.21
- Keeping balance-0.19Keeping balance: A 1.25, B 1.06
- Bending or twisting-0.18Bending or twisting: A 1.32, B 1.14
Degree
A Most people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher (O*NET: 93%).
B Most people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher (O*NET: 62%).
License
A Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work.
B No license for this job title at the 8 Texas and federal licensing agencies read on 2026-10-03 (TDLR, TSBPE, TCEQ, TCFP, TEA, TBPELS, NRC and EPA).
Experience
A Most common related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET: 28%).
B Most common related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET: 25%).
Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5
You likely have: 6
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Coordination
- Monitoring
To build: 0
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