Designs the hidden guts of buildings: ductwork, wiring, and plumbing layouts.
You size ducts for a new school, lay out electrical panels, and make sure the plumbing fits between floor joists.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. 2-year degree in drafting or engineering technology; many move toward PE licensure.
Ways in: 2-year college, 4-year college. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Drafting.
Growing about average. Strong demand for mechanical/electrical/plumbing design.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI auto-routes ducts, pipes and circuits and sizes systems; checking constructability and code on tricky jobs stays human.
Classes: Physics, CAD or drafting CTE, Algebra II.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-3013.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.