Civil Engineering Draftsperson
A civil engineering draftsperson produces technical drawings, plans, and specifications for civil infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, water systems, and buildings. They work in design offices, consultancies, or on construction sites, translating engineer designs into detailed CAD models and construction documentation that comply with Australian Standards and building codes.
What this job is
A civil engineering draftsperson produces technical drawings, plans, and specifications for civil infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, water systems, and buildings. They work in design offices, consultancies, or on construction sites, translating engineer designs into detailed CAD models and construction documentation that comply with Australian Standards and building codes. They liaise with engineers, architects, and site personnel to ensure drawings are accurate, complete, and fit for regulatory approval and on-site construction.
Are employers advertising this role?
Falling, down 27.2% over 5 years
Counted across a group of similar roles. These are three-month rolling averages of online job advertisements, not filled positions.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index.
Day-to-day
Produce detailed 2D and 3D CAD drawings using AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or similar software for roads, drainage systems, foundations, and structural layouts. Interpret engineer sketches, calculations, and design briefs to develop construction drawings with correct scales, dimensions, and tolerances. Create drawing sets including plans, sections, elevations, and details that comply with Australian Standards (e.g. AS 1100 for technical drawing, AS 4100 for steel structures). Prepare specification schedules, material schedules, and bills of quantities for tender and construction documentation. Conduct site surveys using GPS, theodolites, and laser levels to establish existing conditions and produce measured surveys. Update and revise drawings in response to design changes, engineer feedback, and construction site issues. Produce cross-sections, longitudinal profiles, and contour plans for civil works including earthworks, embankments, and pavement design. Coordinate with structural, mechanical, and electrical design teams to resolve clashes and ensure integrated drawings.
Who does this now
About 7,700 people worked in this occupation across Australia at the 2021 Census.
What this role asks for
Diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2)
Registration or licensing may be required.
Can employers fill these jobs
Employers hiring for this occupation had trouble finding suitable applicants in 2025. This measures how hard employers found it to fill jobs. It is not a count of jobs, and it does not say whether the occupation is growing.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Jobs and Skills Australia defines an occupation-ready qualification as:
Completing this qualification will provide the skills and knowledge to undertake this occupation. Further training and experience may be required to meet specific industry requirements including licensing and registration.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Requirements
The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.
The honest hard part
You'll spend years mastering AutoCAD and Civil 3D software, but automation may take over some basic drafting work. Pay tops out well below engineers without the chance to move up without further qualifications. Endless revisions when sites change or engineers change their minds means frustration is part of the job.
Where the jobs are
In reality most permanent roles are in capital cities where major infrastructure projects happen. Regional work exists but is often project-based and temporary. Remote work is limited because site surveys and coordination require being on-site or in the office.
Pay
Published for ANZSCO unit group 3122, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.
This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.
Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
Skills
- Attention to Detailcore
- Check architectural drawings on sitecore
- Digital Literacycore
- Electronic Document Managementcore
- Microsoft Office Suite Proficiencycore
- Problem Solvingcore
- Process Documentationcore
- Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
- Record Managementcore
- Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
- Report Writingcore
- Stakeholder Communicationcore
- Team Collaborationcore
- Time Management and Prioritisationcore
- Written Communicationcore
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
- Continuous Learning and Upskilling
- Microsoft Excel Data Management
- Research and Analysis
- Risk Identification
- Verbal Communication
- Workflow Prioritisation
Which of these do you have?
Tick the ones you haveCommon questions
Sources
- ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
- ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
- ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.
Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.
What Civil Engineering Draftsperson workers move into, from ten years of tax records.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
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