Also called: Engineering Illustrator, Exploded-View Artist
Draws the exploded views and diagrams in assembly instructions, repair manuals and patents.
You take a 3D model of a lawn mower engine and turn it into an exploded drawing where every part floats in place with a number, so a repair tech can find exactly which bolt goes where.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate or bachelor's in technical illustration, graphic design or drafting.
Ways in: 2-year college, 4-year college. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Technical Illustration, Graphic Design, Drafting & Design Technology.
Growing slowly.
High risk for 10 years. AI and CAD software now generate exploded views and diagrams automatically, so few new illustrator jobs remain.
Classes: Art or drawing, Drafting or CAD, Graphic design, Computer science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1024.
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.