In this article, we shall look at what a CAD drafter does, how to become a CAD drafter, the difference between a CAD drafter and a CAD designer, and the CAD drafter salary in various parts of the world.

What Does a CAD Drafter Do?

CAD drafters use design software to convert the design sketches created by architects and engineers into technical drawings. These technical drawings are very detailed since they are the ones that are used in manufacturing the final products or building the final structures. They specify the materials, dimensions, production methods, and codes required in the manufacturing or building process.

Figure 1. Sample of a Mechanical Technical Drawing (Source)

There are Different Categories of CAD Drafters Depending on the Area of Specialization. These include:

• Mechanical CAD Drafters – make technical drawings that specify the requirements required for machining and assembling mechanical components.
• Architectural CAD Drafters – make technical drawings of structural designs for buildings.
• Civil CAD Drafters – prepare topographical maps for infrastructure projects like highways, bridges, piping systems, and the like.
• Electrical CAD Drafters – make technical drawings of wiring diagrams for construction work (including commercial and residential buildings), electrical equipment, and power plants.
• Electronics CAD Drafter – make technical drawings of wiring diagrams for circuit boards including assembly diagrams for circuit boards.

A CAD drafter works full time in an office though sometimes he/she may be required to visit sights to clarify certain things included on the technical drawing. But most of a CAD drafter’s job includes producing technical drawings, adjusting the drawings, responding to feedback from construction workers and machinists, and collaborating with architects and engineers.

How to Become a CAD Drafter

There are two paths that one can take to become a CAD drafter or CAD technician. However, for one to get to the part of choosing to become a CAD drafter, they must have finished high school or gotten their GED. It would be an added advantage if someone has taken science, math, and engineering classes.

With the above qualifications, one can either opt to undergo a two-year associate’s degree at a community or technical college or choose to CAD career path without having to go through an associate degree. 

If one chooses to take an associate degree course, they should select a course that includes science, math, design, and drawing. They could also pursue a software certification credential like those offered by the American Design Drafting Association (ADDA).

If one chooses not to take an associate degree but still pursue a CAD drafter career, they will have to have gained CAD experience in high school and also participated in extracurricular activities like FIRST robotics, for them to qualify for a CAD apprenticeship with a company or organization. When one gets an apprenticeship chance at a certain company or organization, they are most likely to know only what is required in that company or organization. Therefore, it might take some time for someone who chose this path to fully understand all that is required in the CAD drafter career.

The Difference Between a CAD Drafter and a CAD Designer

Though often confused to mean the same, a CAD drafter or CAD technician is very different from a CAD designer. CAD designers are specialists while CAD drafters or CAD technicians are generalists.

In a nutshell, a CAD drafter produces technical drawings using sketches provided to him/her by engineers or architectures. These technical drawings serve as visual guidelines for machinists or constructors by leveraging the different features of CAD software. 

On the other hand, CAD designers are CAD specialists that have broad knowledge in particular subjects like circuit layout, architecture, mechanical systems, and the like.

If you did not take an associate degree when pursuing your CAD career, you will most likely have to become a CAD drafter before becoming a CAD designer. But if you hold a degree in a certain professional field besides your CAD drafting knowledge, then you can become a CAD designer straight away.

CAD Drafter Salary in the USA

Here is a quick breakdown of how the average CAD drafter salary compares to that of the other related careers:

• Civil/Architectural CAD Drafter: $50,710/year
• Mechanical CAD Drafter: $53,520/year
• Electrical/Electronic CAD Drafter: $59,520/year
• CAD Designer: $60,000/year
• Architect: $70,000/year
• Engineer: $80,000/year

The CAD drafter salary is however depend on several factors, which include:

1. Qualifications – the higher the qualification the higher the pay. A CAD drafter with a master’s degree will earn more than a CAD drafter with a bachelor’s degree. Similarly, someone with a bachelor’s degree will earn more than someone that just went for an apprenticeship.
2. Certifications and Licenses – someone with relevant industry credentials earns a higher salary since it shows he or she is qualified.
3. Length of Your Career – A beginner will certainly earn less than someone who has practiced CAD drafting for over 5 years and so on.
4. Location – Different states and cities pay differently depending on the cost of living in the states.

Figure 2. Average CAD Drafter Salary Per Year in the Different States in the US (Source)

   v. Industry – some industries, especially in the metal ore mining industry, tend to pay more.

Below is a list of some of the companies in the US where CAD drafters are paid highest:

• Leidos – $27.93 per hour
• Coffman Engineers – $25.04 per hour
• SmartTalent – $25 per hour
• Graham & Associates – $24.95per hour
• Ettain Group – $24.88 per hour

Other Benefits That CAD Drafters Get on Top of Their Salaries

Besides the CAD drafter salary, CAD drafters also get the following benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• Flexible Schedule
• Professional Development Assistance
• Referral Program

Conclusion

Looking at the above breakdown of CAD drafter salary, a CAD drafter career can be quite rewarding. 

The beauty of it is that one does not have to have a bachelor’s or Master’s degree to qualify as a CAD drafter. As we have seen in the above section, someone can opt for an apprenticeship route to becoming a CAD drafter, which would not only save time and money and ensure that he/she starts earning quite quickly.

According to research by Indeed, 48% of CAD drafters in the US say that their salaries are enough to take care of the cost of living where they live.

Freelancing is a fast-rising job trend in several industries and the CAD industry is no exception. Most companies that require CAD services now post jobs online, preferring the hiring of freelance CAD designers or engineers, to traditional hiring. If you intentionally clicked on this article, chances are you are a CAD designer or CAD engineer, looking to find freelance CAD jobs. 

In a world where freelancing is rapidly becoming the norm, you’d expect there to be numerous freelance sites. And of course, there are over 200 freelance sites all over the internet. However, most of these freelance sites are guilty of lacking freelance CAD jobs. But not to worry, there are quite a number of sites offering freelance CAD jobs. This article features 13 freelance sites where you can find freelance CAD jobs. 

Bear in mind that freelance sites offering freelance CAD jobs are more than the 13 we will cover in this article. However, following intensive research, we at Scan2CAD have come up with this list of trusted sites with easy to navigate interfaces and support services. Note that this article is for informative purposes, and as such, we will not be comparing the services of these sites. Also, the list is in no particular order. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

13 Sites for Finding Freelance CAD Jobs

1). Upwork

Upwork homepage

Although this list is in no particular order, I’ll start with the site I consider the most competitive. Driven by the sole mission to create economic opportunities for talent, Upwork has always been one of the leading freelance sites on the internet. President and CEO Hayden Brown, the face of Upwork, is responsible for its overall success.

Upwork offers a host of freelance opportunities to freelancers, including freelance CAD jobs. To put the cherry on top, it also has a very friendly user interface and is easy to navigate. On the Upwork homepage, after signing in, you can find the Find work, My jobs, Report, Messages, and Notification sections on the top of the page. 

If you don’t already own an Upwork freelancer account, all you have to do is sign up and fill in the necessary details. To make job searching easier, Upwork provides you options to select your skills in the signup process. Hence, making your Job feed contains only Jobs related to the skills you select. For example, if you select CAD design or CAD engineer in the skill section, only freelance CAD jobs will appear on your feed. 

To make bidding for Jobs even more comfortable, there is a search bar at the top of the page with the option to filter your search results. You only need to click on a job you are interested in and submit a proposal, according to the client’s specifications and wait to get hired. 

2). LinkedIn

LinkedIn Homepage

Marketed as the world’s largest professional network, LinkedIn is a shared platform that brings together organizations and professionals. It currently has over 1 billion members in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. LinkedIn allows professionals to connect and network with like-minded business folk. It is also an avenue organizations use to share the latest news and, perhaps most importantly, recruit for jobs.

According to LinkedIn’s statistics, more than 67 million companies were listed as of December 2023, providing members with a wide range of options for finding their next employer or client. Little wonder then that 61 million people are using the platform to search for jobs each week. LinkedIn is the perfect place for anyone in search of jobs. While the platform may not be exclusively dedicated to freelancing as Upwork is, it is not short of freelance jobs – it has a mix of freelance and employment opportunities.

Technically, freelancers are independent contractors and, in most cases, temporary workers, and LinkedIn is not short of contracting or temporary jobs. Companies looking to engage experts in certain fields for a short duration without necessarily onboarding them as employees often post contract-based or temporary jobs on LinkedIn. Thus, if you are looking for freelance CAD jobs, then the platform’s built-in search function should help you narrow down the options.

The search function has filters that let you specify the exact characteristics of the CAD job you want. To find the freelance CAD jobs, you might consider toggling the ‘Remote,’ ‘Contract,’ or ‘Temporary’ filters. The filters also enable you to specify the location of the company or client, a handy tool that helps you avoid time zone-borne misalignments in work schedules.

3). Cadcrowd

CADCrowd homepage

Cadcrowd is a unique freelance website. Unlike other sites on our list, this site operates strictly on freelance CAD jobs. Cadcrowd welcomes you with a beautiful landing page that speaks fully of freelance CAD jobs. Here, you can find work as a CAD designer, engineer, and drafter as it says boldly on its homepage.

Another unique feature Cadcrowd offers is its qualification credentials. Unlike other freelance sites where freelancers need to upload credentials, Cadcrowd qualifies its CAD designers and engineers through CAD contests. These contests are options for companies or businesses to find the best CAD personnel for their jobs. In this case, the company creates a contest and freelancers enter into the contest by sending their designs. The company picks the designer they feel suits what they need. Cadcrowd also has a ranking system for its designers based on these contests. The more contests you win, the higher your rank on the site.

4). Freelancer

Freelancer homepage

This is one of the largest freelance networks. It prides itself as a place where companies and businesses can hire labor easier and cheaper. Like most freelance sites, Freelancer offers a large variety of freelance jobs. However, our main concern is its proficiency in freelance CAD jobs, with this site housing quite a number of those. 

As long as you have the necessary skills of a CAD designer, engineer, or drafter, you are eligible to work on this platform. You only need to click on the signup button on the Freelancer homepage, fill the necessary forms, and you’re good to go. To search for a job, click on the browse projects button on your dashboard and it will direct you to the projects page. Here, you can select jobs according to your preselected skills.

Freelancer is free to use. However, the platform includes four plans – Basic, Plus, Professional, and Premier. These plans are priced between $4.99 and $99.00 per month. Each plan offers individual benefits, with the most expensive plan including the most benefits and the cheapest option the least.

5). Peopleperhour

Peopleperhour homepage

The next site on this list is Peopleperhour. Similar to Freelancer, it is one of the largest freelance networks. And like most freelance sites on this list, Peopleperhour offers freelance CAD jobs together with other freelance programs. 

Here, you can offer your CAD services and earn money without any cost. To work on this platform, you need to sign up, which is a very straightforward process. Click on the signup button on the top right corner of the Peopleperhour homepage, fill in your details and create a profile to start applying for jobs. To make your search for jobs easier, this site features a search bar on the projects page. Enter CAD as the search query and select jobs that match your skills. 

6). Guru

Guru homepage

According to the its About page, Guru’s mission is to bring freelancers and employers across the globe together in a single platform. 

With its large freelancer base, Guru, to a very large extent has achieved its mission.

Like most websites on this list, and in addition to freelance CAD jobs, Guru offers a host of other freelance opportunities, ranging from writing to web designing. Guru operates in a manner that allows freelancers to directly interact with clients or companies looking to higher them, making the process of applying for jobs on this platform quite easy. 

To search for jobs, click on the Find work option on the top of the dashboard page, there, you’ll find jobs that match your skills. Companies or clients then compare quotes between freelancers and hire the best freelancer. 

7). SimplyHired

Simplyhired

With over 3 million employers trusting SimplyHired for the best freelancers, it is fair to say, SimplyHired is the best site to “simply get hired”. This site offers numerous freelance opportunities, including freelance CAD jobs. What we like most about this site are its user interface and structure. Its structure allows for easy understanding and navigation of the site, thus, offering great user experience for freelancers and employers alike. 

Signing up is easy. All you need to do is click on the sign-in button at the top right corner of the page. Select the “Job Seeker” option. Lastly, upload your resume and fill the necessary forms, and you’re ready to begin applying for jobs. To make a job search easier, this site features a search bar. Enter CAD jobs or freelance CAD jobs as your search query and select the job that interests you. 

8). Aquent

Aquent homepage

9). Nexxt

Nexxt homepage

Nexxt , the next site on our list has 25 million professional freelancers. Like most sites on this list, it offers a host of freelance opportunities, including freelance CAD. Here, companies and businesses post jobs with links to their site. Clicking on a job on this site will direct you to the company’s or clients’ site. 

Signing up for this site is pretty basic. Click on the Sign-up button on the top right corner of the page and fill the necessary forms, and you’re ready to start applying for jobs. To make job search easier, this site features a search bar and a location bar, this way you can search for jobs in specific locations.  

10). Glassdoor

Glassdoor Jobs Homepage

Glassdoor is a sister company to Indeed. While Indeed is a job search engine, Glassdoor offers more than just the ability to search for jobs. To job seekers, it enables them to read reviews of companies. As such, Glassdoor is a reliable platform that visitors can use to research and gain more insights about potential clients and employers, helping them make crucial decisions.

Nonetheless, Glassdoor has a job board that lists job opportunities. In addition, it features a search function that lets you type the exact specifications of the job you are looking for. Given its status as a leading jobs site, Glassdoor is not short of freelance CAD jobs and other freelance opportunities. To get to them, simply type the job you want and remember to include the keyword ‘freelance.’ You can also use the filter feature to find job posts that do not have this keyword. For instance, you could use the ‘Job types’ filter to instruct the search engine to display only ‘Freelance’ jobs.

It is worth pointing out that clicking ‘Apply’ or ‘Easy Apply’ on Glassdoor redirects you to Indeed, where you will fill out the requisite information.

11). Flexjobs

Flexjobs homepage

12). Indeed

Indeed homepage

13). Fiverr

Fiverr homepage

Conclusion

One of the most prestigious design certifications to have is the Autodesk Certification from Autodesk, the biggest CAD software developers in the world.

In this article, we will be discussing Autodesk Certifications and their types, the benefits of getting certified, and the certifiable Autodesk software.

Benefits of getting certified

Before we go into what it takes to earn an Autodesk Certification, let us take a look at some of the benefits of becoming certified. Some of these benefits are

• Gain a competitive advantage that boosts your productivity and value 
• Earn an industry-recognized endorsement of your skills
• Accelerate professional development
• As a student, enhance your academic success and prepare yourself for college or a career.

Autodesk Certifications

Autodesk Certifications are industry-recognized credentials that validate and showcases your expertise in certain Autodesk software. Autodesk offers two types of certifications that differ by level of expertise. They are Autodesk Certified User (ACU) and Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP).

Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Professional certification (Source)

Autodesk Certified User

The ACU certification verifies that the holder has acquired basic Autodesk software skills and industry knowledge. This certification is recommended for students and entry-level users who have about 150 hours of real-world Autodesk software experience. The ACU not only enhances student college applications and resumes by providing proof of proficiency but also gives them the confidence to pursue professional-level certifications.

Autodesk Certified Professional

The ACP certification validates the mastery of an Autodesk software. It is an advanced certification for professionals with an expert-level of knowledge, who can solve complex workflow and design problems. To qualify for an ACP certification in a software, you are expected to have worked regularly with the software in a professional environment for a minimum of two years. This is equivalent to a minimum of 400 hours and recommended 1,200 hours.

What Autodesk software can you earn certifications in

Autodesk offers certifications in the following software. 3ds Max, AutoCAD, Fusion 360, Inventor, Maya, Revit Architecture, Revit Structural, Revit MEP: Electrical, and Revit MEP: Mechanical. Some of this software have only ACU certifications, some have only ACP certifications, and others have both ACP and ACU certifications. For each software, we will be going through a list of things you need to master before you can get certified. Note that while these topics are required for both ACU and ACP certifications, the ACP certification requires a far more in-depth knowledge of the topics.

3ds Max

3ds Max is a professional 3D modeling and rendering software used for design, visualization, games, and animations. Autodesk offers both ACP and ACU certifications in this software. Certification in 3ds Max requires knowledge of the following in the software. Animation, cameras, lighting materials/shading, riggers, modeling, rendering, UI/object management, and for ACP certification, effects.

AutoCAD

AutoCAD is a CAD software for everything drafting and design. The software includes industry-specific toolsets for various industries. Autodesk offers both ACP and ACU certifications in the software. To qualify for an AutoCAD certification, you must be able to draw objects with accuracy, modify objects, use additional drawing techniques, organize objects, reuse existing content, annotate drawings, and set layouts for printing.

Inventor

Inventor is a professional-grade 3D modeling, simulation, visualization, and manufacturing software that unifies CAD, CAM, and CAE.  Both ACU and ACP certifications are available for this software. Required knowledge for Inventor certification includes user interface and navigation, assembly modeling, part modeling, drawing, sketching, and browser editing. For an ACP certification, additional knowledge of collaboration, views, and documentation is necessary.

Maya

Maya is a 3D computer animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software. You can earn both ACU and ACP certifications in Maya. To earn these, you must have acquired knowledge of animation, cameras, lighting, materials/shading, rigging/setup, modeling, rendering, and UI/object management. An ACP certification requires additional mastery of effects, dynamics/simulation, scene assembling, and pipeline integration.

Revit Architecture

Revit Architecture is a BIM-integrated 3D modeling software dedicated to the Architecture industry. Autodesk offers both ACP and ACU certifications in this software. Knowledge requirements for certification are creating, modeling, and modifying components, managing views, and managing documentation. Additional knowledge of collaboration is required for ACP certification.

Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is an integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE software for everything product development. Currently, only ACU certifications are available for this software. To qualify for certification, you must be able to sketch, draw, sculpt, model parts and assemblies, and use direct modeling.

Revit Structure

Revit Structure is an industry-specific 3D modeling software dedicated to the construction industry. Autodesk only offers the ACP certification for this software. Prerequisites for certification include mastery of advanced modeling, collaboration, and documentation using Revit structure.

Revit MEP: Mechanical

This is a modeling software that caters to the mechanical and plumbing design needs of structures. Only the ACP certification is offered. Complete mastery of mechanical modeling is required for certification.

Revit MEP: Electrical

Revit MEP: Electrical, like its mechanical counterpart, is dedicated to the electrical design needs if structures and buildings. You can only acquire an ACP certification in this software. The prerequisite for certification is mastery of electrical modeling and design in the software.

For better comprehension, the table below shows the certifiable Autodesk software, and the type of certification you can earn in them.

How to earn Autodesk certifications

Autodesk offers certifications for its software through Certiport, a leading certification exam development & delivery provider. Certiport is a subsidiary of Pearson VUE, a company that develops, manages, and delivers computer-based testing programs for companies and organizations around the world. There are four recommended steps to earning an Autodesk Certification lined up by Certiport. These steps are: learn, practice, certify, and badging.

Learning is a process

Learn

This stage is especially for those who are aiming to earn an ACU certification in a software they may not have come across. Certiport offers several excellent courseware and preparation materials through some Autodesk authorized partners. The leading partners are CADlearning, which includes over 35,000 video tutorials; Global eTraining, a provider of online training solutions; and LearnKey, a top provider of self-paced education. You may also learn from several other sources such as Lynda, Udemy, Edx, Coursera, and the Autodesk Academy, which have comprehensive courses on various Autodesk software.

Practice

As part of your learning process, and in preparation for Autodesk Certifications exams, you can carry out some practice tests. These tests are offered by GMetrix, a skill-management system and leading provider of practice tests, in partnership with Certiport. The GMetrix practice tests are recommended as they create familiarity with the actual exam interface, build confidence towards the certification examination, and enhance the overall learning process through practice questions. You can practice in either testing mode which is just like the actual timed exams, or practice mode where you can work at your own pace while receiving instructions and feedback for each question. GMetrix currently offers practice tests for all ACU certification exams, and for the following ACP certification exams: AutoCAD, Inventor, 3ds Max, Maya, and Revit Architecture.

Certify

Once you have acquired the necessary experience for an Autodesk Certification (150 hours for ACU certifications, and 400 to 1,200 hours for ACP certifications), or when you feel confident enough in your abilities, you can proceed to take the certification exams. The examinations are organized by Certiport and take place in various test centers around the world. You can also take the exam online at OnVUE. To schedule an exam, visit Pearson VUE for more information.

Badging

After you must have taken and passed the certification exam, you become officially certified! You’ll receive a downloadable/printable certificate, as well as an Autodesk Certification digital badge. The digital badges are web-enabled versions of your certification that you can share online, and that can be easily verified in real-time. They are issued by Acclaim, a digital badging platform used by Certiport.

An AutoCAD Autodesk Certified User badge (Source) 

How to promote your certification

What is the point of earning a certification if you do not promote and showcase it, or if it is not verifiable? Autodesk Certifications come with digital badges that you can share with potential employers via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, emails, online portfolios, and digital resumes. All you need to do is download the image of your badge from your Acclaim profile page, insert or upload it to whatever document or platform you desire, and hyperlink the image to your Acclaim page of the badge. Whenever this image is clicked, the clicker will immediately be directed to a page containing all the details about the certification; what it means, for which software, what abilities and skills it verifies, and many more.

Earning an Autodesk certification is highly recommended for both students and professionals who are affiliated with the design industry. While it would require dedicated and hard work, it is definitely worth it.

Most drafting professionals work in the design, construction, or surveying industries. This goes to show how vital a role it plays in modern development, but just how viable is it to get into this career track these days?

In this article, we’ll take a look at the specifics of the job – from the training to the estimated pay. Hopefully, by the end, you’ll have figured out if this is the right career path for you.

A quick look at the numbers

Following a steady increase since the conception of CAD drafting as a career option, the demand has started to go down recently and is continuing its steady decline. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate of drafting professionals is below average at a projected 6% in the next decade.

This seems to be counter-intuitive what with all the development and manufacturing work done around the world gaining more and more steam. This is all due to the growing technological literacy rate for most of the emerging young professionals in the manufacturing and design fields.

There’s less demand for specialized drafters and more demand for those that have multiple specialties, such as young architectural designers who also have drafting skills. This isn’t even putting into account the development of the CAD, drafting, and modeling technologies making their use so much easier than ever before. With the learning curves of this software getting easier to manage, a lot of even the older design and manufacturing professionals have found themselves learning how to use them.

And so employers have started putting a premium in professionals in their field who also have drafting know-how. Not only is it more efficient to hire in-house, but it is also better for the drafter to be knowledgeable of the diagram they are drafting, to be better at spotting errors and creating more intuitive and easily understandable technical drawings.

There’s still some hope, though. On paper, it seems that letting engineers and architects multitask as drafters isn’t as profitable as it may first seem. These construction and design professionals do their best work focusing on their specialties and overseeing the details. In that vein, specialized drafters would still be valuable in the market.

The training

There are institutes and  schools for drafting Source

Each employer has their own preference when it comes to minimum educational qualifications, so it would be best to check on your preferred employers first before applying. But in general, the American standard requirement for CAD drafters is a two-year post-secondary education or training course in drafting. These are usually offered by technical schools, community colleges, and even in full-fledged universities.

Community college drafting courses are to technical school drafting courses as general practice is to specialties. With drafting theory and general education, you cast a wider net with community colleges as opposed to the more intensive and focused learning in technical schools. The advantage that community colleges have however is the choice to use your taken courses as credits when looking to transfer to four-year colleges.

If you’re not looking for further education, a two-year drafting program is more than enough to prepare you for the start of your drafting career. But if you choose to move on to a four-year college, you should know that you’ll probably be looking at course not specifically on drafting, but rather in architecture, engineering, design, and higher math.

Most people go into architectural or civil engineering as drafters but recently, more and more people are looking into being drafters for industrial and electronic engineering.

Drafting specialties

Detail of 40 years old house blueprint – main floor plan Source

So, what’s next after training as a draftsman? We’ve mentioned before how drafting has a finger in many a pie, so let’s talk about how you can specialize.

Architectural and civil engineering drafting is two of the more prominent drafting specialties nowadays. The drawings produced are used in the construction of houses, buildings, roads, and bridges. And even in these industries, you could choose what type of structure you specialize in drafting. Some draftsmen, for example, specialize in residential builds, while others prefer commercial builds. And depending on the part of the building being detailed, you have drafting for electrical systems, plumbing and piping layouts, and mechanical air-conditioning layouts.

If construction isn’t for you, the mechanical and industrial design industry is in need of drafters as well. The aeronautical industry has drafters working on the design and manufacture of aircraft parts. The same goes for general mechanical engineering and industrial design.

How much does it pay?

Salary can vary between drafters and this all depends on their specialties, place of work, and levels of experience. The median salary as of 2019 is $55,550 with architectural design and engineering draftsmen earning the lowest and electronic and electrical draftsmen earning the most.

Most drafters have the usual 40-hour workweek working in offices or at home remotely. Some employers also sponsor the continuing education of drafters with some of them going on to become engineers, architects, and licensed technicians.

It’s worth noting that the market for drafters is getting more and more saturated by the year and the demand is fairly strong due to the increasing amount of developments and manufacturing all over the globe. Yet as we mentioned before, there’s less demand for just drafters and a steady increase in demand for drafters that also double as engineers or designers. To make any good money out of the job, drafters will have to stand out and so having specialties or getting expertise on other non-drafting jobs will help nab you a niche in the market.

So in short, to get better pay offers for your services, learn to get better at drafting, but also learn to leverage other skills to make yourself unique and desirable to companies.

Conclusion

If you’re good at technical visualization and have a knack for understanding and jotting down measurements and details, drafting is no doubt going to be interesting work for you. Additionally, if you’re looking to be an engineer or architect, being a drafter is a good jumping-off point that would earn you enough money on the side to fund further education.

For either case, it will be important for potential drafters to get a decent understanding of the subject matter they would be drafting about. But if you’re worried about the potential reduction of demand for drafters, you really don’t need to be – for as long as information has to be relayed about manufacturing process or construction, drafters will always be sought out. 

Don’t be put off by the forward march of the technological revolution. On the contrary, if you’re in industries such as architecture or design, where visual content is particularly important, these sites can be a godsend.

Case in point: Houzz. This incredibly useful website provides a platform on which you can share your designs, hone your creativity and get directly in touch with people who could benefit from your services. The best news? It’s free! So, if you’re not already making the most of Houzz, read on to find out how you can start tapping into its significant potential.

Table of Contents

• What is Houzz?
• Who can (and should!) promote themselves on Houzz?
• How to win clients on Houzz
  • Getting started
  • Showcase your work
  • Share your knowledge
• Embrace the power of online social platforms

What is Houzz?

Image source: Forbes

Houzz is an online community created for anyone interested in home improvement and renovation—be they professionals or enthusiasts. The homepage encourages visitors to “Get inspired. Shop products. Find pros.” And judging from the amount of activity on the site, it’s clear that many people are! In fact, Houzz boasts 14 different global sites and currently welcomes 40 million users a month. Not too shabby! 

When browsing Houzz, you’ll find a plethora of inspiration and advice in the form of portfolios, ideabooks, professional profiles, message boards and more. Adding your work to the site and getting involved in the community is a really effective way of increasing your online presence and thus building awareness of your brand. Plus, while you’re there, you can keep an eye on what your contemporaries (ahem, competitors) are up to!

Who can (and should!) promote themselves on Houzz?

Just a taste of the kind of professionals who could benefit from using Houzz. Image source: Houzz

We don’t have to tell you that ‘home improvement and renovation’ covers a wide range of services, products and skills. There are plenty of people out there who would benefit from having a profile on Houzz—be you an architect who specializes in large, modern builds, or a craftsman with a penchant for tiny glass coffee tables.

If you have a product or skill that people can use to improve their homes, you’re missing out by not promoting yourself on this platform. If pushed to be specific, we’d say it’s particularly useful if you’re an architect, home builder, kitchen fitter or interior designer.

To see what Houzz could do for your personal business, check out the story of Andrew from APD Interiors, below:

How to win clients on Houzz

So, now that you’re convinced Houzz is worth your time, let’s get stuck in to how you actually go about using it effectively. The most important thing to remember is that this should not be viewed as a purely money-making endeavor. Yes, some extra cash could be a nice perk once you’ve created a strong presence, but your initial goal should be to add value to the community while becoming an authority in your field. Once you’ve achieved this status, the benefits will become very apparent.

Getting started

The first thing on your Houzz ‘to do’ list is to create your professional profile. This basically acts as your shop front, so make sure it is both enticing and impressive. If you’re not sure how to present yourself in the best possible light, take a look at some of the existing profiles on the site that are doing well. There’s no harm in copying a few of their tactics!

Think about what represents your brand: include high-quality images of your work, details of recent projects and maybe even awards or testimonials, if you have them. Once your profile is complete, don’t see it as done and dusted—you need to re-visit it regularly, to make sure it’s fresh and up-to-date.

There is also the option of a Houzz Pro+ account, which includes advertising tools. Before seeing dollar signs and jumping at this opportunity, find out how well the free version works for you first. Give yourself time to really perfect your profile and successfully engage with the community. This will give you a basis for comparison, should you choose to access the paid features later.

Showcase your work

One of the great things about Houzz is that it gives you the opportunity to make your work accessible to a large audience. So, make the most of it! Utilize images that really show off your skills and present the full spectrum of what you are able to achieve. When uploading pictures, use keyword tags (based on the kind of thing your target clients would be searching for) to label them. This should increase your visibility and make it easier for people to find your work.

You can also have fun creating ideabooks, which are a bit like Houzz’s take on Pinterest boards. An ideabook is a collection of sources like photos, stories, professional profiles and discussions. Aim to create collections that stick to a specific theme or project, e.g – ‘Scandi style living rooms’.

Ideabooks are a great way to organise your own creative thoughts and show other people what you can do. Don’t be afraid to include the work of others, too! Once they’re assembled, you have the option of sharing them privately with specific clients, or making them public. The latter is a really useful way to build your brand identity.

While you’re at it, have a flick through the ideabooks of other professionals whose work you admire—there’s inspiration to be found all over Houzz!

Share your knowledge

Once you’ve established a presence on Houzz, make your voice heard. Comment on the work of others (keep it positive and polite), help fellow professionals by leaving reviews on services you’ve tried and respond to any user questions aimed at you in a timely manner. Being useful and not too self-promoting is the best way to make yourself a valuable member of the community.

The Houzz website includes a discussion section that covers an extensive range of topics. Image source: Houzz

Anther great area where you can join in the conversation is on the discussion boards. Filter the topics based on your expertise and start dishing out advice where you can. Again, don’t be too much of a know-it-all, just let people know you can be a source of help. It goes without saying that you should keep it professional and friendly at all times.

The more your name pops up in these various discussions, the more people will notice you and, by extension, your work. This process lays the groundwork from which you can gain a following of people who appreciate your designs or products. As is the case with social media, the Houzz platform thrives when users both give and take.

Embrace the power of online social platforms

We hope this guide showed you just how valuable a platform like Houzz could be to your business. Why overlook a free tool that can help you both personally (organise your ideas and gain inspiration) and professionally (increase your online presence and gain new clients)? Plus, it’s easy to use and opens you up to a wide range of professional opportunities. What’s not to love?!

For more industry tips and advice on how to make the most of your work, check out the rest of the Scan2CAD blog.

In this article, we’ll provide a rundown of the top firms in architecture, engineering and construction. With major projects ongoing at any time, they offer an exciting working environment for ambitious engineers and designers. Let’s check out who made the list!

Architecture

We’ll break the top thirty firms in this article down to the three components of AEC. To begin, we’ll look at the top ten architecture firms in the world, and explore some of their best-known projects.

1. Gensler

Where better to start than with the company that, according to Architectural Review, had the highest architectural revenue of any firm in 2018? Yes, it’s Gensler who top that list—and they’re becoming quite the fixture there, having spent seven years at the summit. This mega-firm has plenty of marquee projects to its name, including JetBlue T5 at JFK International Airport, as well as the Shanghai Tower. One of their biggest projects unveiled to the public this year was Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport, whose opening coincided with the 2018 Winter Olympics held in nearby Pyeongchang.

2. Perkins+Will

One of Perkins+Will’s best known projects is Chase Tower in Chicago. Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Perkins+Will has a long history, having been founded in 1935 in Chicago. Since it first opened its doors, though, the firm (founded, appropriately, by Lawrence Perkins and Philip Will) has helped to transform the Midwestern city it still calls home. One of its key works is the Chase Tower, which has stood as one of Chicago’s tallest buildings since its opening in 1969. Perkins+Will wouldn’t be on this list if they’d stood still since then, though, and more recent projects have included the New York City Police Academy and Shanghai Natural History Museum.

3. AECOM

Next on our list is the first company that isn’t a strict architecture-only firm. In fact, AECOM’s architectural revenue accounts for a slender 7% of the total business. Even so, the company have found themselves outcompeting almost every architecture firm on the planet. Not bad going. Major ongoing projects include the Al Wakrah Stadium in Qatar. A collaborative project with Zaha Hadid Architects, it will serve as one of the host stadia for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

4. Jacobs

Next up is another combined architecture, engineering and construction group: Jacobs. Unlike AECOM, which, with its foundation date of 1990, is a relative spring chicken, Jacobs has been in the game since 1947. Astonishingly, the $431 million the company made in architectural revenue represents only around 4% of the overall business, which, as a whole, has revenue approaching $10 billion. Fittingly for such a colossal company, there’s no single ‘Jacobs style’, with the company instead striving for “architectural design excellence” that fits each client’s identity. Interiors are a key part of Jacobs’ architecture business, as well as regional projects such as the Northern Ballet Headquarters in Leeds, England, in the picture above.

5. HKS

We’re staying in Dallas for the fifth entry on our list, but this time, we’re back to a pure architecture firm. HKS are known for a number of major projects—everything is bigger in Texas, after all. Plenty of those projects are, indeed, in HKS’ home state, including the AT&T Stadium in Arlington and the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The firm haven’t shied away from setting their sights further afield, though, and they’ve worked on major overseas projects such as the Venetian Macao, a combined resort-hotel housing the world’s largest casino.

6. HOK

Around since 1955, HOK began life with just 26 employees, together with its three founders: Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum. They’ve come a long way from the small architecture firm whose early jobs were mostly St. Louis schools. Over the years, their major projects have included the Kellogg World Headquarters in Battle Creek, MI; King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to the Atlanta Falcons. Under construction at the moment is the company’s Spire London project, set to become the tallest residential tower in western Europe.

7. HDR

Image source: Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz

Next on our list is another firm with a Midwestern base: HDR, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Only around a fifth of the company’s revenue comes from its architectural activities, but there’s still plenty worth talking about. Perhaps the company’s most notable project is the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge—the bridge spanning the Hoover Dam, and connecting the states of Arizona and Nevada. Another project in the Southwest is the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in Phoenix, AZ, while the firm also designed the Baxter Arena in its hometown of Omaha.

8. IBI Group

The first non-U.S. firm to make the list, IBI Group is a Canadian firm that opened for business in 1974. They’re notable for their large number of acquisitions over the years, acquiring offices across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. Key projects include 41 Cooper Square, which houses the Albert Nerken School of Engineering in Manhattan, NY. Across the pond, the firm was also responsible for the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, and masterminded the travel demand management program for the London 2012 Olympics.

9. Stantec

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

As the first Canadian to ever earn a PhD in environmental engineering, Dr. Don Stanley already had one claim to fame under his belt. He could easily have rested on his laurels from that point, satisfied that he’d already made history. Instead, he went on to found one of the world’s largest AEC firms: Stantec. Though its engineering work makes up the bulk of its revenue, Stantec nevertheless makes it onto our list of the biggest architectural firms thanks to projects such as the Molson Coors HQ in Denver, CO; China’s Renaissance Shanghai Putuo Hotel; and the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology in England.

10. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Image source: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

Sure, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (or, for short, SOM) may ‘only’ have made it to tenth on this list. But we doubt they’re feeling too beat up about it. After all, we’re talking about an architectural firm that built nothing less than the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa—and has so many other major works going on that they’ve tucked it a loooooooong way down on their projects page. (Sure, it was over a decade ago that the Burj opened—but if it were us, we’d definitely still be crowing about it.) Bravo, SOM.

Engineering

Defining who to include in a list of the top engineering firms can be tricky. After all, there are civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering firms to take into account, alongside a wide range of other branches and sub-branches of the field. Then there’s the issue of firms which stray onto the territory of architecture or construction. Nonetheless, we’ve whittled the near-interminable list down to come up with ten of the top engineering firms.

1. WSP Global

While architects tend to take much of the credit for our most iconic buildings, we forget all too often the engineering work that goes into creating them. After all, if we did give engineers their proper dues, WSP Global would surely be a household name. The company have had a hand in everything from The Shard in London to the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, a huge chunk of New York’s skyline has WSP’s fingerprints all over it, including One World Trade Center, the New York Times Building, and Trump Tower. 

2. SNC-Lavalin

The William R. Bennett Bridge in Kelowna, BC. Image source: Wikimedia Commons

We stay not only in the same country and province, but in the same city for our second pick: SNC-Lavalin. While it may share a hometown with WSP Global, SNC-Lavalin has a very different focus, with specializations in oil and gas, mining, power stations and energy distribution. They’re also involved in major infrastructure projects in Canada, including the William R. Bennett Bridge in British Columbia and the Confederation Line in Ottawa, Quebec.

3. Arcadis

Image source: Richard Leeming

The first European-based firm anywhere on our list is Arcadis, a Dutch company with a global reach. Across the world, they’ve been involved in some groundbreaking work, including providing drinking water to one and a half million people in São Paulo, Brazil, and constructing the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, home to some of the world’s leading research in neuroscience. Even if you haven’t heard of these cutting-edge projects, you’ll surely be familiar with the stunning Millau Viaduct above. Spanning the Tarn Valley in southern France, this is the world’s tallest bridge, 23 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower.

4. Fluor Corporation

Planet Hollywood Las Vegas was built by Fluor in 2001. Image source: Kris Ziel

With a history spanning back over a century, Fluor Corporation is one of the oldest firms featured on our list. In its earliest days, Fluor focused on a range of infrastructure and energy projects in California. From the thirties, however, the company began turning its attention out of state, before amassing international projects such as Chile’s Escondida copper mine and the King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia. In more recent years, the company has been involved in recovery operations following Hurricane Katrina, as well as rebuilding after the Iraq War.

5. Tetra Tech

It should come as no surprise in this point in the list to learn that Tetra Tech is a company with fingers in many different pies. Nonetheless, the diversity of the firm’s projects is still staggering. Housing in the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq? Check. Improvements at Iqaluit Airport in Nunavut, Canada? That, too. A geothermal project in Kenya? You bet. Tetra Tech is best known, however, for its services in the water sector. In fact, Engineering News-Record has listed Tetra Tech as the number one company in water for fifteen years.

6. KBR

Image source: KBR

When it comes to industry sectors, KBR is, perhaps, a little less expansive than some of the fellow engineering firms that made this list. Take a look at the company’s major projects, and certain key themes will crop up time and again: refineries, LNG and ammonia plants, and oil platforms. Where the company stands out, however, is in its geographical breadth, with operations across six continents, spanning from the Northwest Territories to Tierra del Fuego. Among the company’s non-energy related projects are the U.S. Embassy in Macedonia and the Devonport Royal Dockyard in England.

7. WorleyParsons

Formed in 1971 in Sydney, WorleyParsons is the only Australian company in our list of the top 30 AEC firms. Nonetheless, they certainly do a good job of representing the Southern Hemisphere as one of the world’s largest engineering and consultancy firms in the energy sector. In 2018, they celebrated the opening of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, the largest diameter pipeline ever built. They also have an advisory role on the world’s largest solar power project in Dubai, as well as an engineering contract for Kenya’s Kipeto Wind Power Project.

8. Dar Group

Image source: Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University

Ranked as the #1 firm in sectors as diverse as Healthcare, Airports and Education, it’s certainly an exciting period for the Dar Group. The UAE-based company’s projects focus on infrastructure, architecture, project management and energy, which it sees as key to sustainable growth. The group has a global footprint, with projects ranging from the Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University in Saudi Arabia to the Bank of Canada.

9. Mott MacDonald

The history of Mott MacDonald stretches back to 1902, with founder Basil Mott having worked on the original London Underground. For the first century of its existence, it remained largely a U.K.-focused firm. In 2008, the company’s international takings outweighed its British earnings for the first time. Today, its overseas projects include the Marina Coastal Expressway in Singapore, Highway 1, and a nationwide water program in Tajikistan. Mott MacDonald hasn’t forgotten its roots completely, though, having been involved with Heathrow Terminal 5, as well as London’s new Crossrail line.

10. Arup

We finish up our engineering section with another British firm: Arup. Specializing in the built environment, Arup have acted as structural engineers on many of the most recognizable buildings of our time. Their impact is notable in their home country, the U.K., where their projects have included the HSBC Tower, 30 St Mary Axe (the Gherkin), the London Eye, the Angel of the North and the Lloyd’s Building. Their international projects, meanwhile, have been no less prominent, including the CMG Headquarters and Bird’s Nest in Beijing; the HSBC Main Building in Hong Kong; and the Sydney Opera House.

Construction

At one point, it may have been forgivable to think of the work of architects and engineers as being more conceptual, while the construction sector got on with putting the theory into action. The dawn of BIM, however, has brought the disciplines closer together than ever before.

With this in mind, we move onto our final group of companies: construction firms. As you may guess, these firms combine construction with engineering and, in some cases, architecture. Let’s take a look at these firms and the projects they’re behind.

1. ACS

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Spain’s ACS Group (Actividades de Construcción y Servicios) has established itself as one of the world’s major players in both construction and civil engineering. Under the vast ACS umbrella is Dragados, which has carried out construction work on the iconic Torre Glòries skyscraper in Barcelona, as well as on Madrid’s Torre de Cristal and Torre Cepsa. 

2. Hochtief

Break down the word ‘Hochtief’ into two parts, and you’ll get the German words for ‘high’ and ‘deep’. Fittingly, its major projects have reached both to the stars and deep into the belly of the earth. Take the Zollverein complex, for example: an industrial site so important it’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More recently, the company have been behind the construction of several skyscrapers in Germany’s financial capital, Frankfurt, as well as Ukraine’s Dnipro Arena.

3. China Communications Construction

We now come to the first (but by no means the last) of the Chinese firms to make our list. China Communications Construction is a slightly misleading name: infrastructure is the name of the game when it comes to this firm. 2018 saw the completion of the long-awaited Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, connecting China’s two Special Administrative Regions to the mainland. Away from China, the company is also involved in notable projects in countries such as Jamaica, Malaysia, Senegal and Mozambique.

4. Vinci

Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal. Image source: F Mira

One of two French companies to make the list, Vinci is one of Europe’s largest construction firms. Vinci’s work is diverse, including the reconstruction of Whiston Hospital near to Liverpool, England; the Atlantic Bridge spanning the Panama Canal; and the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. They also constructed the Vasco de Gama Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal, as well as operating airports in France, Portugal, the U.S. and beyond.

5. Strabag

Strabag is Austria’s largest construction firm, employing over 70,000 people in projects across Europe and around the world. Indeed, few of its major projects are in its home country; instead, they include works such as the Alte Weser lighthouse off the German coast in the North Sea; Terminal 2 of Sofia Airport in Bulgaria; and Basra International Airport in Iraq. Infrastructure works have included Limerick Tunnel in Ireland and Vrmac Tunnel in Montenegro.

6. TechnipFMC

A far cry from many of the broad-reaching construction firms featured here, TechnipFMC focuses on oil and gas. The company itself is one of the newest on the list, having arisen from a merger between France’s Technip and US firm FMC in 2017. The merged firm, therefore, carries considerable clout, and has been involved in projects in Russia, the UAE, Australia, India and Norway, amongst many more locations worldwide.

7. Bouygues

Image source: Wikipedia

Its name may be a mouthful for non-Francophones (‘bweeg’ is a decent enough approximation for English-speakers), but Bouygues is still a name on everyone’s lips. In France, it’s been a driving force behind some of the country’s major construction projects, including the Musée d’Orsay and Stade de France. They also formed part of the consortium behind the Channel Tunnel. More recent flagships have included the Paris Law Courts and Bordeaux Métropole Aréna.

8. China State Construction Engineering Corporation

With a name emphasizing its nationality, you might expect CSCEC to have a Sino-centric focus. It’s certainly true that some of the company’s most well-known buildings are in China, such as the Shanghai World Financial Center and Beijing National Aquatics Center. However, CSCEC has spread its wings, with a particularly large number of projects in the MENA region, including the Doha Tower and Great Mosque of Algiers.

9. Skanska

The Øresund Bridge linking Denmark and Sweden. Image source: Nick-D

Sweden’s Skanska has been around for well over a century, having its origins in a cement company founded in 1887 in Malmö. Since then, it’s made the move from southern Sweden to the capital, and has undergone dramatic international expansion. Skanska’s major projects have included the MetLife Stadium, as well as renovation work on the United Nations headquarters. Close to the company’s traditional home, they were part of the group that constructed the Øresund Bridge, which links Malmö to Copenhagen, Denmark.

10. Power Construction Corporation of China

We finish up with one of the newest companies to make our list: Power Construction Corporation of China (or POWERCHINA for short), whose history spans back only to 2011. With the company’s name, it shouldn’t come as a shock to learn that many of the company’s major projects are in the energy sector, particularly hydropower, while water conservancy is also high on the agenda. Recently, the company has undertaken hydroelectric projects in Laos, Cambodia, Ecuador and Sudan.

Scan2CAD’s latest article gives you a list of the top 10 highest paid jobs in CAD—complete with average salaries, necessary qualifications. and job outlooks. 

The salaries for CAD jobs can vary depending on which field you work in, e.g., engineering, designing or drafting. These salaries can also fluctuate depending on how much experience you’ve had, what additional qualifications you have and even where your job is located. We look at these aspects in much more depth in our handy article on CAD salaries. 

We’ve provided median salaries for each of the top jobs available in CAD, which will vary depending on the factors mentioned above. To give you a better look at how much these salaries can vary, however, we’ve also included percentile wages. 

Without further ado, here are the top 10 highest paid jobs in CAD…

Top 10 Highest Paying CAD Jobs in 2022

1. Electrical and Electronics Engineers ($107,890)

Electrical and electronics engineers work on designing and developing the manufacturing of electrical equipment like communications systems. Throughout the work process, they need to stick to industry standards and safety regulations. CAD can play a strong role in the work of electrical engineers—giving them the ability to generate electrical and electronic diagrams quickly and efficiently. 

According to the latest statistics from BLS, the top-paying industry for electrical engineers is research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, with median annual wages of $125,080. Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing comes in second with median annual wages of $107,190. 

The highest paying industry for electronics engineers is navigation, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing, with median annual wages of $128,560. Second placed semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing has annual median wages of $128,330.

California tops the list of the states with the highest wages for both electrical engineers and electronics engineers. Here, the former group earns $126,640 on average, while the latter takes home $130,330.

Percentile wages for Electrical Engineers

Source: BLS

Percentile wages for Electronics Engineers

Source: BLS

2. Mechanical Engineer ($97,000)

Mechanical engineers plan and design tools, engines and machines—essentially, most mechanical devices. To ensure the safety and efficiency of each product designed, mechanical engineers are also responsible for testing prototypes—analyzing aspects like stress. They also oversee the installation and operation of equipment like centralized heating, for example.

Mechanical engineers in the scientific research and development services industry have a better chance of a higher pay, with a median annual wage of $102,050. As for the top paying state for this occupation, California is top of the list with an annual mean wage of $113,130.

Percentile wages for mechanical engineers

Source: BLS

3. Civil Engineer ($95,490)

Civil engineers plan, design and oversee the construction of building structures and facilities—including roads, channels, pipelines and sewage systems. Projects range from small-scale repairs to large-scale structures like airports. Using CAD software, civil engineers can create and redesign structures over and over until they get the perfect output.

The industry with the highest published wages for civil engineers is listed as federal government, excluding postal services according to the BLS—offering median annual wages of $100,730. As with electrical engineers and mechanical, California is the top paying state for civil engineers, with an annual mean wage of $109,890. 

Percentile wages for civil engineers

Source: BLS

4. Industrial Engineer ($95,200)

At the forefront of the work of industrial engineers is the search for eliminating wastefulness in all production processes. They work on increasing efficiency in workplaces and logistics by improving worker training, maintenance and production coordination. Industrial engineers are also responsible for determining the quality and reliability of products—making use of CAD’s FEA capabilities.

BLS states that the top paying industry for industrial engineers is computer and electronic product manufacturing, offering a median annual wage of $99,340. And the top paying state for industrial engineers? California comes out on top with an annual mean wage of $108,330.

Percentile wages for industrial engineers

Source: BLS

5. Architect ($91,900)

Architects are responsible for planning and designing structures that can range from residences to offices to large-scale factories. Detail is key with architects—dimensions and materials have to be specified to the ultimate level of precision. CAD software plays a large role in architecture—to get a better look, you might want to check out how the architectural industry uses CAD. 

According to the latest stats released by the BLS, the top paying industry for architects is government—the median annual wage for which comes out at $99,330. As for the top paying state for this occupation, New York heads the list with an annual mean wage of $103,340.

Percentile wages for architects

Source: BLS

6. Industrial Designer ($79,680)

Industrial engineers develop and design manufactured products. The beauty of this job is that industrial engineers can be involved in anything from cars to children’s toys—it’s just that versatile. Of course, not only do these products need to be functional, they also need to be aesthetically pleasing and in line with production cost budgets.

If you’re looking for the industry that pays the most for industrial designers, architectural, engineering, and related services come out on top with a median annual wage of $81,230. As for the top paying state, California reigns supreme, offering a mean annual wage of $93,170.

Percentile wages for industrial designers

Source: BLS

7. Electrical and Electronics Drafter ($67,090)

Electrical drafters prepare a variety of diagrams for electrical engineers, ranging from wiring to circuit board assembly. The diagrams they design will eventually be used for the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment and wiring systems for power plants, factories and much more.

Electrical drafters looking to join the fold of the highest paying industries should set their sights on architectural, engineering, and related services—coming out with a median annual wage of $60,460. Wondering which state comes out on top for paying the most? New York is top of the board, with a mean annual wage of $78,230.

Percentile wages for electrical and electronics drafters

Source: BLS

8. Mechanical Drafter ($62,650)

Mechanical drafters often work hand-in-hand with mechanical engineers when creating and preparing repairs for mechanical devices. Mechanical drafters also develop diagrams for machinery and mechanical devices. These diagrams require a high level of precision—drafters need to specify factors like dimensions and fastening methods.

The top paying industry for mechanical drafters is architectural, engineering, and related services with an annual mean wage of $60,460. The highest paying state for mechanical drafters is California yet again, with an annual mean wage of $71,550.

Percentile wages for mechanical drafters

Source: BLS

9. Interior Designer ($62,570)

Interior designers plan, design and furnish the interiors of residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Interior designers have to look at every aspect involved in the furnishing, from color to materials to the placement in the room. Most importantly, the design needs to be both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

If you’re looking to find the most profitable industry for interior designs, keep your eyes peeled on the architectural, engineering, and related services sector – latest statistics place the median annual wages at $63,210. Wholesale trade comes in second with median annual wages of $61,820. 

New York is the highest paying state with interior designers there earning $72,220 on average. California is second with annual mean wages of $70,290, followed by Illinois with $63,270.

Percentile wages for interior designers

Source: BLS

10. Architectural and Civil Drafters ($60,620)

Architectural and civil drafters create and develop drawings of structures and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects like highways and bridges. A lot of this work will involve long hours spent surveying prospective project areas, documenting the stages of developing structures and much more.

Architectural and civil drafters looking to rake in the cash might want to look towards architectural, engineering, and related services—offering a median annual wage of $60,460. And the most profitable location for these drafters? California, once again, coming out with an annual mean wage of $66,140.

Percentile wages for architectural and civil drafters

Source: BLS

Parting Shot

If you are considering a career path in the CAD industry, you could be looking for a job that pays the highest wages. In that case, you could begin that journey by taking a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering. And if you are looking to settle in a state that pays the highest wages for your profession, consider California or New York. But keep in mind that the former is listed as one of the most expensive states to live in.

Of the various high-paying CAD jobs discussed in this article, the industrial engineering field is projected to witness the highest growth rate at 14%. Civil engineering is poised to see the second-highest growth, with BLS estimating that it will grow at 8%. At the same time, however, some fields are expected to experience stagnation or downright decline. Interior design, for example, will not experience any growth, while mechanical drafting is projected to decline by 5%.

In summary, here’s a breakdown of the best CAD jobs for each category (based on the salary):

• Best engineering job: Electrical and electronics engineering
• Best drafting job: Electrical and electronics drafting
• Best design job: Industrial design

If you like to use specific CAD software, like AutoCAD, you might be wondering if there are any job opportunities available. If that’s the case, you might want to take a look at our articles on AutoCAD careers or SolidWorks careers.

We’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know about SolidWorks careers. Here, we’ll cover everything from the specific jobs on offer, to the qualifications needed, to where you can find them. Plus, we’ve included a handy stats section examining specific salaries and job growth. Let’s hop to it!

Table of Contents

• SolidWorks careers
• Qualifications
• Essential statistics and information
• Pros & cons
• Where to start
• Conclusion

SolidWorks careers

SolidWorks was developed by CAD giant Dassault Systèmes. It also stands as one of the most prominent CAD packages out there.  As CAD has evolved, so too have job requirements. It’s now common for jobs to require candidates to have experience using specific software. This is mostly due to companies having all employees using the same software. Being proficient in SolidWorks, therefore, can open many doors for you. 

Already had a look at job sites? You’ll have noticed that some jobs specifically mention CAD software, e.g., “SolidWorks drafting specialist”. Alternatively, you might find the software mentioned in the job description. We’re going to take a look at general career sectors that require skills in SolidWorks:

• Drafting
• Engineering
• Architecture
• Design

Drafting

Image source: Michael Lord

Drafters can use SolidWorks to create 2D and 3D drawings. They’ll work with engineers to put together blueprints, plans, parts and assembly drawings. Furthermore, drafters will have to specify aspects like tolerance, dimensions and materials. CAD drafters, therefore, are fundamental in the process of creating structures, machines and products. One of the benefits of CAD is that drafters no longer have to create and continue modifying real-world prototypes. Everything can be modified and improved directly in SolidWorks. Drafters can even test real-world scenarios in simulations. 

Mechanical Drafter

Median annual wage: $55,130

If the name didn’t clue you in, mechanical drafters specialize in creating and preparing drawings for various machinery, mechanical tools and devices. Whether it’s medical equipment or heavy industry tools, mechanical drafters play a huge part. Accuracy plays a heavy role in these technical drawings—drafters are required to indicate dimensions, assembly methods and mechanical installation infrastructure. Mechanical drafters can expect to work alongside engineers, manufacturers and architects.

Mechanical drafters are required to verify design calculations, which is where SolidWorks can play a big part, as simulation sequences can be used to test stress and tolerance. This means that drafters can quickly assess a product’s functionality and make necessary changes quickly and efficiently. 

Electrical Drafter

Median annual wage: $59,690

Electrical drafters create technical illustrations, wiring diagrams and connection specifications that are used as visual aids for complex equipment and machinery. These drawings will consequently be used by electrical workers who are installing or repairing equipment. Electrical drafters will ultimately work towards creating master drawings—to scale—which will give engineers an idea as to where these installations will be placed in existing facilities.

Accuracy is key. Electrical drafters have to take note of exact dimensions and specifications. For example, they would need to look at factors that might affect the installation, such as distance for wire. Fortunately, SolidWorks comes with a range of simulation capabilities.

Architectural drafter

Median annual wage: $52,870

You might be wondering what the difference is between architects and architectural drafters. For the most part, architectural drafters take the concepts of architects and create technical drawings and blueprints. Architects, on the other hand, have a much more “hands-on” approach to projects. By using software like SolidWorks, architectural drafters can take the rough sketches created by architects to design full, detailed schematics.

SolidWorks is relatively popular in the AEC sector for its optimized construction process—courtesy of PDM—and its ability to connect design data from start to construction. Indeed, these capabilities have made things much more efficient and streamlined.

Civil drafter

Median annual wage: $52,870

Civil drafters create drawings, maps and schematics for large-scale civil engineering projects. These projects could be anything from roads to bridges to sewage systems. This wide variety also means that you could be working on blueprints and drawings for projects either above or below ground! Civil drafters also need to take into consideration factors like cost and material type—consequently calculating how this might affect the weight and volume of the design.

It’s not all about looks, of course. It’s a civil drafter’s job to make sure everything functions the way it’s supposed to. Projects need to be to scale, accurately dimensioned and within the correct procedure and safety standards. As with architectural drafters, civil drafters take the ideas of civil engineers and put them to paper—or CAD!

Engineering

Image source: Engineer.com

SolidWorks is very popular with engineers—allowing them to produce detailed designs and schematics for the creation of mechanical systems or products. They can start out with 2D designs, eventually evolving to full 3D models. Analysis and simulation tools in SolidWorks can then be used to test stress and tolerance—trying to prevent issues further along the pipeline. Aspects like cost, material and measurements can also be examined throughout the design process.

Mechanical Engineer

Median annual wage: $85,880

Mechanical engineers offer solutions—in the form of mechanical devices or processes—to particular problems. These products can range from anything including electrical generators, gas turbines and elevators. Using SolidWorks, mechanical engineers can create these mechanical devices—making use of important analysis tools to test stress and tolerance.

Obviously, if any problems are found, such as weak structures or overlapping elements, the engineer will need to make modifications. Fortunately, you no longer have to go back to the drawing board and scrap an entire design if there are issues. It’s as simple as identifying the problem and modifying it.

Civil Engineer

Median annual wage: $84,770

Civil engineers have to cope with vast amounts of information during a project, from survey reports to maps to overall data. It’s their job to measure construction costs—measured up against budgets—regulations, potential environmental hazards and general risk analysis. With SolidWorks, PDM can play a huge role in this part of the job. Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. They also have to consider cost estimates for materials, machinery and labor. 

Once civil engineers have surveyed and analyzed the structure, they’ll present their findings to the public. To that end, visual aids play a big role in this particular part. 

Industrial Engineer

Median annual wage: $85,880

Industrial engineers have one key factor that they need to consider above all: efficiency. It’s their job to develop management systems and workflows that make planning and cost analysis as efficient as possible. Industrial engineers also work on individual projects—figuring out how to create products with maximum efficiency. The aim is to eliminate wastefulness from processes. 

Industrial engineers are also in charge of quality control procedures and reviewing work and process flows. It’s not all about machines or products: it’s also about the people. Industrial engineers look at the workforce and evaluate how well they’re doing their jobs. 

Other engineering careers might include manufacturing engineers, project engineers and application engineers.

Architecture

Image source: Solid Solutions

While SolidWorks might not be the first CAD software people think of in regards to architecture—the most obvious one might be AutoCAD—it can be very useful. SolidWorks can be used to create 2D floor plans, 3D models and visual renderings of a variety of possible structures. And that’s not all. Capabilities like PDM and simulations enable users to streamline workflows and perfect a structure. 

Architect

Median annual wage: $78,470

Architects work alongside architectural drafters, as shown above, who take their ideas to CAD—reviewing drawings and specifications. Architects might start by selecting the site of the structure. They will then need to look at the specific requirements, objectives and budget of the overall project. Obviously, the architect won’t be working alone—they’ll collaborate with other architects, drafters and engineers. The benefit of software like SolidWorks is that collaboration is simple—everything is completely streamlined from step to step. 

It’s not all about CAD and working behind a computer, however. Architects will also be expected to take regular visits to the actual site of the project. This is so they can check the progress of the project and ensuring it’s on time—and sticking to the budget!

Design

Image source: SolidWorks blog

Using SolidWorks, designers can put together visual interpretations of projects and 3D renderings—useful for presenting work to clients. Whether it’s interior or exterior design, models can include a variety of elements including windows, wall furnishings and flooring. SolidWorks’ simulation capabilities can play a role in enabling designers to perfect designs before heading to the physical prototype stage.

Interior Designer

Median annual wage: $51,500

Interior designers create interior spaces—taking into consideration client specifications and aesthetics. Space plays a huge role in projects, as interior designers need to consider how to use free space and how people will move around it. Using SolidWorks, interior designers can create detailed floor plans and layouts—even including electrical layouts. 

Designers need to specify materials and interior furnishings, ranging from lighting to the walls to the flooring. Visual tools are incredibly useful in allowing designers to show their full ideas and concepts to clients in a clear and effective manner. To make it even more realistic, designers can choose to present clients with full walkthroughs. 

Industrial Designer

Median annual wage: $65,970

It’s the job of industrial designers to consider how people use products, and to test different design types to determine which one is safest, most efficient and ideal for the target audience. Working with engineers, industrial designers also need to determine whether their design is indeed possible. Whilst creating their product in SolidWorks, industrial designers will look at material and production costs.

Using analysis tools, industrial designers will evaluate their designs, looking at safety, appearance and overall functionality. They’ll continue to revise their product until it is the best possible model. Much like interior designers, they’ll also present their designs to clients via visual tools and walkthroughs.

Qualifications

So, we’ve looked at the many SolidWorks careers that are available out there. Now, you might be wondering how exactly you can become a drafter or engineer, for example. We’re going to look into the specific certificates and degrees that you might need. 

Before we do, however, we’re going to briefly explain the different qualifications available. 

• Professional certificate. This is offered at community colleges, career training schools and online schools. It can be obtained in a year and offers specific career skills.
• Associate’s degree. It takes two years at a community college, career training school or college/university. It’s possible to continue on to do a bachelor’s degree.
• Bachelor’s degree. It takes four or five years at a college/university or online school. Most jobs require this type of degree. It’s possible to continue on to do a master’s.
• Master’s degree. It’s taken after a bachelor’s degree and can be completed in 2 years. It gives students a more advanced look at their field of study.

What you need to become…

A drafter

If you’re looking to become a drafter, you need—at the very least—an associate’s degree. As we’ve said, this can be completed at a community college, career training school or college/university. You can opt to specialize in a particular field, e.g. electrical, mechanical or architectural. Once you’ve completed your degree, you can choose to further your education with a bachelor’s, or start looking for a job. Most opt for a bachelor’s degree due to increased job prospects.

With regards to licenses, you can opt to get American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) certification. While not mandatory, it can improve your résumé and emphasize your competence and knowledge in your chosen field of expertise. 

An engineer

Requirements for engineers are slightly higher than drafters. You need to complete a bachelor’s degree in a subject relevant to your sector. With engineering being highly competitive, you might also opt for a master’s degree to set you apart from the rest. 

As is the case with drafters, it’s not mandatory for engineers to have specific certifications. That being said, if you’re eyeing up positions like senior mechanical engineer, a Professional Engineering (PE) license will set you up nicely.

An architect

To start, you need a bachelor’s degree in architecture. If you’ve had no prior training, this can take up to 5 years. You’ll also want to add on a master’s degree which can take between 1 to 5 years. And that’s not even half of it! You need to complete at least 3 years of experience in a paid internship. 

Unlike drafters and engineers, architects are all required to sit for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). If you’re looking to bolster your résumé, you might look towards further certification with NCARB.

A designer

As with engineers, designers need to complete a bachelor’s degree in their chosen field, e.g., interior design or engineering. With this particular sector, it’s unquestionably worth building up a portfolio of your work over the years. This will give potential employers an idea of your capabilities. Moreover, it’s a great way to track your progress.

Some states only allow individuals to use the title “interior designer” if they’ve completed the NCIDQ. You need 2 years of experience to be eligible. And, while industrial designers don’t have to have specific certification, most opt for an MBA to further their skills. 

Essential statistics and job information

A bit lost? There’s a lot of information to take in with these jobs. Fortunately, we’ve put together a table below with all the essential bits you need to know. This includes median annual salary, education and additional requirements. Additionally, we’ve included a job growth projection over the next 10 years.

Career	Median Annual Wage	Required Education	Additional requirements	Projected Job Growth (2016-26)
Mechanical drafter	$55,130	Associate’s degree/Bachelor’s degree (optional)	ADDA optional	5%
Electrical drafter	$59,690	Associate’s degree/Bachelor’s degree (optional)	ADDA optional	2%
Architectural drafter	$52,870	Associate’s degree/Bachelor’s degree (optional)	ADDA optional	7%
Civil drafter	$52,870	Associate’s degree/Bachelor’s degree (optional)	ADDA optional	9%
Mechanical engineer	$85,880	Bachelor’s degree/Master’s degree (optional)	PE  for career advancement	9%
Civil engineer	$84,770	Bachelor’s degree/Master’s degree (optional)	PE for career advancement	11%
Industrial engineer	$85,880	Bachelor’s degree/Master’s degree (optional)	PE for career advancement	10%
Architect	$78,470	Bachelor’s degree/Master’s degree	3 years of paid experience, mandatory ARE, NCARB optional	4%
Interior designer	$51,500	Bachelor’s degree	NCIDQ required in some states	4%
Industrial designer	$65,970	Bachelor’s degree	MBA optional	4%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

SolidWorks careers: pros & cons

If our guide to SolidWorks careers has you interested, check out our quick list of pros and cons to see if it really is right for you…

Pros

 SolidWorks opens up doors to jobs in drafting, engineering and design.
 If time is of the essence, an associate’s degree only takes 2 years!
 You can work with other CAD software too, e.g. AutoCAD.
 Some occupations allow for working remotely.
 If you put in the effort, career advancement is on the horizon.

Cons

 Industries like engineering are very competitive and job growth can stagnate.
 In order to get a senior position, you have to put in more time and money.
 Many companies outsource CAD instead nowadays.
 You have to make sure you’re consistently up to date with SolidWorks.
 Drafting can be physically tolling on the eyes and wrists.

Overall, you have to think carefully about how much time, money and effort you’ll have to put in. Careers in engineering undeniably have higher monetary benefits than drafting. That being said, you’ll also have to put in more time and effort in gaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Additionally, to keep up in such a competitive industry, you’ll have to make sure your knowledge of SolidWorks is consistent and up to date.

SolidWorks careers: where to start?

So, you’ve slowly accumulated your SolidWorks skills and now you’re eager to put them to the test. If you’ve already got your degree sorted out, now’s the time for the hardest part: searching for a job. Fortunately, nowadays, the entire job search process has been simplified. Subsequently, there are hundreds of job sites out there that you can use. Some of our top ones include:

• Monster
• CareerBuilder
• Robert Half
• Indeed
• Career Jet

Simply use relevant keywords—like “SolidWorks” or “Mechanical Engineer”—and refine your search by location, salary preferences and experience. In short, make sure you take the time to read the job descriptions carefully and revise your résumé until it’s up to scratch.

Conclusion

SolidWorks fans will be pleased, then! With so many SolidWorks careers out there, the options are limitless. A plan is key to career success. So, map out where you want to be and take note of what you need to get there. Whether it’s getting an associate’s degree or gaining experience, it’s all important. 

Concerned about job growth stats? While it’s plain to see that some jobs have a higher projected job growth percentage, it’s not an exact science. In any case, there’s always opportunity out there, it’s all about looking carefully. For that reason, it’s important to do your research properly and tailor your résuméto fit prospective jobs—the rest will undoubtedly fall into place. 

Looking to start out on your own? Then you might want to check out Freelance CAD—Everything You Need To Know. 

Find out with Scan2CAD’s exclusive guide covering everything you need to know about CAD training. From the types of CAD courses available, and the benefits of training, to top training courses, we’ll provide you with all the essential information. 

Table of contents

• Computer Aided Design
• Why is CAD training useful?
• Benefits of CAD training
• What types of courses are there?
• Which course is best for me?
• CAD training courses
  • Authorized training courses
  • College programs
  • Non-credited courses
  • Software certification
• Productivity tips
• Extra Resources

Computer Aided Design

Computer Aided Design (CAD) software is used across industries and disciplines worldwide. As we’ve discussed in our guide to how CAD changed product design, great advancements in CAD software have reduced the prevalence of manual drawing techniques. Using CAD, designers and engineers can create 2D and 3D animation, drawings and advertisements. This importance has led to CAD skills being extremely sought-out in almost every industry out there.

As a result, many degrees now feature CAD software in their syllabus. For example, architectural students might use Autodesk’s Revit during their bachelor’s degree. Not all CAD software packages are used in university courses, however, which often leads to some people having greater skills in one package over another. This is problematic if you’re applying for a job that favors a package you’re unfamiliar with. In addition, you might find that a CAD package you were familiar with ten years ago has changed dramatically. So, what can you do? 

CAD training is the answer…

CAD training courses are available to help people learn how to use CAD software. These courses differ depending on what you’re looking for. There are general CAD courses that take you through basic concepts and techniques in 2D and 3D design, modeling and rendering. There are also more specific CAD training courses that teach you how to use specific software like SolidWorks, AutoCAD and Revit. 

CAD training is an option for people with any level of expertise—from beginner to expert. Instead of going through random CAD tutorials on YouTube, you can look at courses that use a professional syllabus or guide. 

Why is CAD training useful?

In demand

As we’ve mentioned, CAD skills are high in demand in today’s job market. CAD training therefore enables you to expand your expertise to stand out in such a competitive job market. There are many jobs out there that require the knowledge of CAD software—take a look at some examples below…

• Drafters: use software like AutoCAD to convert designs into technical drawings or blueprints. These drawings can be used to create structures, tools and machines. 

• Engineers: make use of CAD software to produce designs and specifications for the manufacturing and modification of mechanical components or systems. 

• Architects: use software like Revit to create floor plans and 3D renderings of structures. They can use it to analyze a building’s components and structural integrity. 

• Designers: make use of CAD software to create 2D models and 3D renderings of their designs. They can include aspects like surface features and interior features. 

And that’s not all! There are dozens of additional industries that require CAD skills, like the media and entertainment sector. The more software packages you can master or familiarize yourself with, the more valuable you become to your current or prospective employer. 

Experience matters…

As we discussed in our blog post covering CAD salaries, experience can have a huge impact on your salary through the years. The longer you work in a discipline, the more appealing you become to potential employers. Entry-level employees typically get a lower salary compared to experienced or late career employees—as you can see below. 

Length of Career	CAD Drafters	CAD Technicians	CAD Designers	CAD Engineers
Late Career (20 years+)	24%	38%	30%	24%
Experienced (10-20 years)	19%	24%	13%	10%
Mid-Career (5-10 years)	6%	7%	2%	7%
National Average	$40,000	$40,000	$48,000	$56,000
Entry-Level (0-5 years)	-9%	-10%	-14%	-9%

Source: PayScale

Going through additional CAD training to get a certificate or additional experience can also have an impact on your salary. If you’re a job seeker, you’ll want to do anything you can to highlight your expertise to potential employers. If you’re an established professional, CAD training is the perfect way to stay relevant in your career. Technology is always advancing, which means that CAD software is always changing—keeping up with these changes therefore increases your chances of career advancement. 

CAD training isn’t just beneficial for individuals, however: it’s also relevant for companies. Many businesses nowadays opt to outsource CAD work to professionals because they lack qualified or experienced employees. While outsourcing can be cheaper than employing a CAD professional, it’s arguably much cheaper and easier to invest in in-house CAD training. Many course providers offer training for multiple employees at a training center, or even at your office.

But it’s not all about jobs…

If you’re a hobbyist, CAD training can be vitally important in helping you get to grips with specific types of CAD software. For example, you might have been interested in replicating Scan2CAD’s top 3D CAD models in SolidWorks. CAD training can be the perfect way to familiarize yourself with software of your choosing. Before you know it, you could be creating your very own laser-etched plaque!

Benefits of CAD training

CAD training is a cost-effective venture. Arguably, the cost of earning certification through a training course can be cheaper than enrolling at a college for further education—e.g. a master’s degree. The beauty of CAD training is that it can be extremely flexible. Some courses allow you to take classes on a part-time basis so that you can work it around your existing schedule. In addition, the length of courses varies depending on your experience level. If you’re just looking for a quick refresher, you could even be done in a day or two. 

As we’ll discuss below, CAD training providers offer different methods of training. The most popular and accessible method is online CAD training, which comes with even more advantages…

• It’s cheaper. Online training can be much cheaper than in-class training—for starters, you don’t have to pay for fuel or parking! Course providers also tend to ship out course materials and software at no additional cost. 

• It’s at your own pace. Some courses involve strict timelines, but online training often allows you to work at your own pace. Instead of struggling to keep up with an entire class, you can concentrate on topics for as long as you’d like. 

• It’s refreshing. Online training means that you don’t have to sit in a loud or distracting classroom. You can learn in the comfort of your own home. Of course, there are in-class courses for those who prefer a traditional environment. 

• You can do it any time. You can register for most online training courses whenever you want—unlike with a college degree, there’s no set registration date. 

What types of courses are there?

Authorized Courses

Authorized training courses are offered by course providers that have been authorized by companies like Autodesk and Dassault Systèmes to teach courses involving their software to learners. This means that, often enough, you’ll receive official certification after completing your course or exam. Autodesk certification, for example, is industry-recognized and can be added to your resume. This is incredibly useful in helping you increase your success in your career, as we’ve discussed in our ultimate guide for CAD job seekers.

Some course providers offer this training at their own centers or in a traditional classroom environment. At the other end of the spectrum is online training with self-paced learning and virtual instructors. The syllabus and length of these courses depends on your level of expertise. Through this training, you’ll learn how to use specific CAD software through a variety of media types—from webinars, to slides, to videos.

College Programs

It’s also possible to complete a CAD training course with some colleges. This varies from courses focusing on general CAD drafting programs, to those specifically dedicated to the learning of AutoCAD, for example. These courses can be completed in a traditional classroom environment or online. You could even choose to complete them as a 6-month full-time program, or as part of a 12-month part-time program. These courses come with flexibility and a professional syllabus that takes you through the vital skills you need in a CAD career. At the end of the course, you’ll receive a certificate that highlights your expertise in CAD.

You can even opt for distance learning with some college programs. It can be a flexible way of studying—you can do everything at your own pace. The only dates that are fixed are exams and assessments. It’s cheaper than an entire degree, but keep in mind that it can still be relatively costly.

Non-credited Courses

If you don’t quite fancy forking out money for authorized training or a college program, non-credited courses can be a cheaper alternative. As the name suggests, these training courses don’t offer certification or credit once you’ve completed them.

One of the biggest disadvantages to these training courses is that they only scratch the surface. They don’t come with a professional syllabus or certification. Arguably, this is only really an issue if you’re looking to advance your career or resume. If you’re looking to master software so that you can complete your own hobbyist projects, however, you won’t exactly need professional certification.

There are, of course, additional resources to take advantage of. There are many free training courses out there. In addition, many software providers offer their own learning resources and courses. If you’re a student, you have access to dozens of popular CAD software and resources for free. For more information, check out the students’ guide to free CAD and resources. 

Degrees

Training programs aren’t the only way you can receive CAD training. Many degrees out there offer their own form of training with particular CAD software packages. If you haven’t yet completed any further education, you might want to consider it before you try out CAD training or certification. After all, if you’re looking for a lucrative career, you’ll need to have obtained a degree to be viable for anything beyond entry-level jobs—as we mentioned in our post on AutoCAD careers.  There are three main types of degrees which will help you progress to different stages in your career: 

• Associate’s degree: a 2-year degree which can be taken at any technical institute. It opens up the door to entry-level positions. 
• Bachelor’s degree: a 4-5-year degree which can be completed at colleges or online schools. It can often be the first required step for some careers. 
• Master’s degree: a 2-year degree that is pursued after a bachelor’s degree. It can highlight expertise in a field and is an advised step for candidates who want to pursue higher salaries. 

These degrees will teach you how to use CAD software in relation to your job industry or discipline. For example, if you’re an architect taking a bachelor’s degree, you’ll learn how to use Revit and BIM. While obtaining authorized certification is beneficial in highlighting your expertise with a software package, you’ll still only be able to access entry-level careers if you haven’t got the right degree. If you’ve already got your associate’s (or other) degree, additional CAD training and certification can further increase the likelihood of career advancement. 

Which course is best for me?

Now that you know what types of CAD training courses are available, you might be wondering which one is best for you. Ultimately, it all depends on what you want to get out of a CAD training course. If you’re a hobbyist looking to brush up on your skills, you don’t need to be forking out a lot of money for training. You can quite easily take advantage of the many free or cheap training courses and resources out there. In fact, it’s even possible to teach yourself how to use CAD software—as we’ve shown in our AutoCAD and SolidWorks tips and tricks for newbies. 

If you’re a job seeker or professional looking to boost your resume and skillset, however, you might find it’s worth breaking the bank for a decent course. Choosing an online authorized course, for example, can enable you to fit your training around your job searching. While it can be costly, you can get certification at the end which you can add to your resume. Extra certification always sets you apart from other job seekers.

Factors to take into consideration when choosing a course…

• Online or in-class: do you learn better at your own pace or in a traditional classroom? Some training courses are only available online, whereas others offer you the chance to experience learning in a more fixed environment.

• Cost: if you’re only looking for a refresh with a particular CAD package, you should look for a relatively cheap course. If you’re looking to get certified for your career, then you should look into an authorized course—bear in mind the cost for your training and exams. 

• Learning medium: what kind of learning methods does the course provide? If you’re someone who learns best by reading, you might not mind courses that offer purely textual guides. If you learn better by seeing and doing, you might prefer courses with virtual instructors and videos.

• Support: does the course offer additional support? Some courses provide virtual instructors who are always on hand to answer any of your queries; others don’t. If you’d rather not spend hours googling any of your queries, make sure your course has 24/7 support.

• Experience level: does the course fit your experience level? You don’t want to rush into choosing a course, as you might end up buying a course that provides you with beginner-level training despite the fact you’re on an advanced level, for example.

CAD training courses

1. Authorized Training Courses

CAD Training Online

CTO is an Autodesk authorized training provider. You can take their courses online or at one of their training centers. They cover general CAD courses, like AutoCAD Introduction; architectural courses, including Revit; Civil and Survey courses like Infraworks; and manufacturing courses covering Autodesk Inventor. CTO doesn’t just provide one way of teaching—it has a range of training methods…

• Online virtual classroom training: this will be presented by a live instructor in a virtual classroom where students conference via the internet. 

• Online self-paced training: this is great for people who learn better at their own pace—using training videos, hands-on exercises and self-assessments. 

• Company dedicated training: brings a course to your company or departments. It’s perfect for groups who have adopted new software. 

• Custom tailored training: CTO develops custom curricula based on your requirements that can then be taught at a training center, online or at your office. 

AutoCAD Introduction 

This course takes beginners through AutoCAD software for the first time. You can take the instructor led course ($1,125 or $1,520) in which training materials are shipped directly to you and you get AutoCAD software to use for 30 days. CTO sets scheduled dates and times for classes, and gives you an Autodesk certification of completion at the end of the course.

Alternatively, you can take the self-paced course ($395, $525 or $845) in which all training materials are available online 24/7. You can also make use of AutoCAD software for a full 30 days. 

Revit Architecture BIM Management 

This course is only available in an instructor-led format. You have to pick two days from a scheduled list. You’ll then complete 8 hours of training per day, resulting in 16 hours of overall training. CTO will ship all training materials directly to you, and allow you to retake the class as many times as you want. 

Symmetry Solutions

Symmetry Solutions is the official SolidWorks training provider for the Upper Midwest. It provides training programs that are hosted online or at one of the training center locations. They offer SolidWorks-certified instructor-led training courses that can help you improve your skills, build your resume or learn how to use SolidWorks for the first time.

You can take these courses at one of their official training centers, offering you a more traditional learning environment. Or, you can take online training classes which are live, interactive, and taught by SolidWorks-certified application engineers. Each online class is held in a series of four hour sessions, so you’ll only spend half of your day training. Symmetry Solutions provide access to SolidWorks software, so you don’t have to buy an individual license. Examples of their courses include:

• CAD courses: this includes topics like SolidWorks essentials, drawings, advanced part modeling and surface modeling. 

• CAD advanced courses: including aspects like mold design, piping and tubing, and API fundamentals. 

• Simulation courses: this include sub-courses like motion, flow simulation and simulation premium dynamics. 

• Technical communication courses: this covers using SolidWorks Composer, SolidWorks Inspection and model based definitions. 

• PDM courses: covering how to use PDM, the API fundamentals of PDM professional and using PDM standard. 

• Electrical courses: this includes electrical schematics, electrical 3D and electrical advanced. 

2. College Programs

Digital School

Digital School Technical Design College is a private vocational post-secondary college. It has provided CAD training to hundreds of students in full-time diploma programs and part-time industry training. Its flexible course calendar means that you can enrol and start every 6 weeks.

Computer Aided Drafter Certificate (Online)

This course can be completed as a six-month full-time program, or as a 12-month part-time program. You can learn in an online training format that includes text, audio, demonstrations, exercises and videos. The course covers aspects including:  

• Building Information Management
• AutoCAD essentials
• Surveying techniques
• Construction methods
• Technical specifications
• Inventor essentials

Ashworth College

Ashworth College offers learners an online AutoCAD training package that will show you how to use all of AutoCAD’s features, from commands to isometric models to 3D models. You gain access to a comprehensive AutoCAD eBook that provides an activity-based approach to learning AutoCAD. The online classes include virtual ‘field trips’, multimedia presentations and a variety of other resources to help you develop your skills. 

Ashworth College offers access to online AutoCAD Certified User Practice Exams and also allows you to take the Autodesk Certified User Certification exam—they even cover your fee. You can graduate in as few as four months. Tuition varies from $799 up to $999. The course includes: 

• Access to AutoCAD software
• Proctored AutoCAD Certified User Certification exam
• Online exams and assessments
• Access to academic advisers and a learning resource center 
• Personalized career guidance

3. Non-credited CAD courses

Lynda

Lynda.com is an online learning platform that helps users learn how to use technology and software. Through individual, academic and corporate subscriptions, members have access to a video library of top-quality courses taught by recognized industry experts. 

By using Lynda, you can learn how to use a variety of CAD software including AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit Architecture and SolidWorks. With over 13,000 video tutorials, you can look through a variety of lessons at a beginner, intermediate or advanced level. You have to subscribe to Lynda, which costs $25-$37/month. You can filter the lessons according to specific software and your level of expertise. 

Lynda doesn’t provide official certification or qualifications. Some employers will be content with the knowledge that you know how to use certain software, others will require official proof. This type of training is ideal for hobbyists, professionals looking for a refresher and CAD freelancers. 

Solid Professor

Solid Professor is helping designers keep up with training in the cloud. It provides concise, relevant online video-based courses. You can look through courses authored by industry experts and an extensive library of software titles and topics. It also includes: 

• Interactive lessons and hands-on exercises
• Skills assessments and review tests
• Create custom curriculum by class
• Earn technical certificates to show career readiness

Solid Professor’s library covers a wide variety of software ranging from SolidWorks to CATIA to Onshape. It even covers the topic of 3D printing. The price for membership varies from $39/month for standard, $59/month for professional and $79 for premium. 

4. Software Certification

Most software providers out there offer their own training courses and programs. Some are available online and others require you to travel to a training center. These providers also offer exams where you can earn professional certification—like the AutoCAD Certified User exam offered at Ashworth College. 

Autodesk Certification

Autodesk offers industry-recognized credentials with their certification programs. You can get certified in most of Autodesk’s products including AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit and Maya. You have to take an exam at one of their training centers, and if you pass you get your certificate. There are three levels of certification: certified user, certified professional and certified specialist. 

You can also get Autodesk Certified digital badges which are web-enabled versions of certification. It validates your skills and can be posted on sites like LinkedIn. You can also use them in your emails and portfolios. Potential employers can then click on your badge to verify your Autodesk skills. 

You can undergo training directly with Autodesk before taking this exam. However, it can be expensive—many opt for training packages like CTO’s instead. 

Dassault Systèmes Certification

Dassault also offers individuals a certification program. By getting certified with Dassault, you can demonstrate your expertise and prove your capability in today’s competitive job market. Additionally, the program offers feedback on training programs by providing a before and after measurement of trainees’ acquired skills. 

You can get certified in CATIA and SolidWorks. By doing so, you can join a growing community of certified users. When you successfully pass an exam, an electronic certificate is generated and stored in your user account. You can also receive a label that you can use to promote your certification. Of course, you have to be fully prepared for these exams. You can either take courses with SolidWorks directly, or opt for another more cost-effective program. It all depends on how much money you’re willing to spend. 

Productivity tips

If you’re looking to take CAD training, you need to make sure you’re doing as much as you can to be productive. Check out some of our top tips below to make the most of your time…

• Prioritize. Most people undergoing CAD training do so alongside a job, education or family life. The important thing to do is manage your schedule carefully so that you’re not wasting your time. You should create a weekly schedule or routine—slot in an online class when you’re not working. 

• Relax. While it is important to make the most of your time, it’s also important not to over-exert yourself. Multi-tasking—while efficient—can decrease productivity if you’re not careful. As such, you should make sure that you give yourself some much needed downtime between lessons. 

• Make your own study space. If you’re completing your CAD training online, it means that you can do it in the comfort of your own home. This means that you don’t have to worry about showing up to a loud and uncomfortable classroom. Take the time to tidy up your desk ready for your studying. 

• Have some fun. While it’s important that you learn how to use CAD (for your career or hobby), it’s also vital that you remember how fun CAD can be. Check out some of our top CNC projects to inspire you—once you know how to use the software, the world is your oyster. 

Extra Resources

Scan2CAD knows how confusing it can be as a beginner in the world of CAD. In fact, it can be pretty confusing even for people who have been in the CAD industry for years. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of top resources that you can use either alongside your CAD training, or as a precursor. 

YouTube

If you like to learn through a hands-on approach, then YouTube tutorials are the perfect resource. There are hundreds upon hundreds of videos out there for all types of CAD software—from AutoCAD to SolidWorks to Creo. The great thing about this is that there are channels dedicated to specific software. You can enjoy tutorials ranging from beginner lessons to intermediate 3D models. Check out a few examples below…

• SolidWorks Zen 
• CAD CAM Tutorials (AutoCAD)
• Tutorials Engineer (CATIA)
• Siemens NX Tutorials (Solid Edge)
• Onshape 

Official Blogs

Keep up with the latest industry news and software changes with official software blogs. Immersing yourself in the world of CAD can make your learning experience much easier. It’s also useful for keeping you inspired—seeing recent innovations from Dassault, for example, might have you itching to start your CAD training so you can start your own CAD projects. 

• Autodesk
• PTC
• Dassault Systèmes
• Onshape

Scan2CAD

If you’ve ever wondered how you can convert your images and drawings to a vector CAD format (without having to manually trace them) then you should checkout our product, Scan2CAD. Scan2CAD is the market-leading raster-to-vector conversion software.

You can use it to do anything from vectorizing your logo for CNC or converting a GIF to DXF.  Scan2CAD is the ultimate vectorization software, and you can get it in a free 14-day trial. 

If you’re looking to stay updated on everything CAD, CAM and CNC related, you should keep an eye on Scan2CAD’s blog. Recent subjects cover everything from vectorizing using Illustrator to how the engineering industry uses CAD to an introduction on CNC control software. 

As a student, you have access to dozens of professional CAD packages for free—whether you know it or not. You can also get further discounts off other CAD packages. With that in mind, Scan2CAD has compiled a list of the top discounted and free CAD software for you to enjoy. Plus, extra learning resources and freebies for you to take advantage of. 

Table of Contents

• Importance Of Free Software
• What’s A Student License?
• Free CAD Software
  • Autodesk Software
  • Onshape
  • PTC Creo
  • Solid Edge
  • ARCHICAD
  • DraftSight
• Discounted CAD Software
  • SolidWorks
  • CATIA
  • NX Resources
  • TurboCAD
  • Rhinoceros 3D
• Extra Resources and Freebies

The Importance Of Free CAD For Students

Whether you’re a student of engineering or architecture, you’ll find that many disciplines are becoming increasingly reliant upon digital tools. These types of tools take the form of CAD, CAM and CAE software applications. If you’re interested in bringing skills into internships or CAD careers, you need to have a good understanding of this type of software. 

With the rise of technological innovations and advancements, CAD packages are becoming increasingly more expensive to purchase. As a student, you’re already racking up the costs with your education—you don’t want to be spending more money trying to learn the skills that you’ll need in your future job. Of course, most colleges will already provide this software in their campus computer labs. If you don’t have 24 hour access however, free software is a lifesaver. 

Free Student Software

Free software is a growing trend in the CAD industry for students. Of course, free or discounted student software comes with restrictions such as low storage or a set length of license term. When you sign up for a student license, you have to stipulate that you’ll only use it for academic or non-commercial purposes. The software comes with the same functionality as professional versions, except your projects will have a small watermark so it’s clear you’re using an academic version. 

What’s A Student License?

There are two types of licenses that enable students access to free CAD software. 

Academic Institution Software Licenses

Most academic institutions offer students software on machines on campus or in computer labs. Some institutions even have licensing agreements that allow students to download software to their personal machine. Usually, the school will purchase the software which can then be downloaded by students for free with a license key. 

Of course, these licenses are usually limited to term times—once you’re no longer a student, you can’t use the software. The licenses are also for academic, non-commercial use only. 

Individual Download through a vendor

Outside of academic institutions, many software vendors have started to offer free student software through their own websites. Students need to register to prove they’re eligible for the software. This is usually done by using an academic email address or a student ID number.

Like the academic license, this is limited to a termly or yearly basis—you have to renew the license at the end of the term in order to keep using the software. 

Free CAD 

Without further ado, below you’ll find a list of the top free CAD software that you should be taking advantage of right now. Be aware that you can only use them while you’re a student. While you do however, you’ll be saving thousands of dollars a year. If you can’t find the CAD software you’re looking for, you might find it in the discounted CAD section. Alternatively, if you’re not a student why not check out 14 top CAD freeware? 

We have included software descriptions, operating systems and commercial price comparisons. It’s important to note that some software vendors don’t publish their prices, so the price we have included may be an approximation. 

Autodesk Software

Autodesk is the giant of all giants in the world of CAD. It offers an extensive range of CAD, CAM and CAE software that thousands of professionals and hobbyists use on a daily basis. One of the issues with Autodesk however, is that the software can be rather expensive. 

Fortunately, Autodesk offers most of its major packages to students and educators for free. This includes packages like AutoCAD, Fusion 360 and Revit. All you have to do is apply for a 3 year education license—just prove that you’re a student and off you go. The only limitation is that your designs will have watermarks on them so that it’s clear the file was created with a non-professional version. Take a look at the top Autodesk packages that you should be taking advantage of below. Be aware that this is just the tip of the iceberg—there are dozens more products available for students. 

AutoCAD

• Type: 2D/3D
• Students: Free
• Commercial: $11,470/year
• OS: Windows, Mac

Starting with Autodesk’s flagship product, AutoCAD is one of the most popular CAD packages out there. Released in 1979, AutoCAD is a 2D and 3D CAD software used in a range of industries including architecture, construction and manufacturing. 

Designers can use AutoCAD throughout the entire design process to bring ideas to life, produce designs and perform simulations. Autodesk offers specialized versions of AutoCAD including Architecture, Civil 3D and Electrical. The software uses the popular file format DWG—approximately 2 billion DWG files were in existence by 1988! AutoCAD comes with 2D documentation and 3D modeling tools. It can also be used on mobile with AutoCAD 360. 

Fusion 360

• Type: 3D
• Students: Free 
• Commercial: $300/year (standard), $1,500/year (ultimate)
• OS: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

Fusion 360 is a 3D CAD, CAM and CAE tool. It covers the entire production process from planning to testing to executing. Hailed as the ‘first tool of its kind’, Fusion 360 enables designers to work in a single cloud-based platform that works on both Mac and PC. 

It comes with sculpting and modeling tools that bring your designs to life, alongside FEA capabilities to perform simulations and test a product’s viability. Its key advantage is in its collaborative capabilities—with Fusion 360 you can bring design teams together from across the world. 

Revit

• Type: 2D/3D
• Students: Free
• Commercial: $2,000/year
• OS: Windows and Mac

This BIM software is popular among architects, structural engineers and designers. A key player in the BIM market, Revit enables users to design and build 3D structures and access building information from the model’s data. It comes with 4D BIM which gives users the ability to plan and track the stages of a building’s lifecycle. 

It enables full collaboration across multiple project contributors, resulting in better coordination and management. 

Learning Resources

Autodesk’s learning resources are just as extensive as its range of software. Autodesk Academy gives students the ability to develop their skills and prepare for careers through free online courses and webinars. Students can also create their own portfolios on Design Academy to show off their work. They can then connect to fellow students, enter into design challenges for industry professionals and sign up for Autodesk’s Student Experts program. 

Autodesk University Online is a learning platform that helps Autodesk users educate themselves on all of the products on offer. There are hundreds of online classes available, held by industry experts. Users can browse these classes by feature topic (3D printing, cloud services, sustainable design), by product (AutoCAD, Revit, Maya), or by industry (AEC, infrastructure, media). 

Not to mention, there’s an education community where students can share projects, questions and ideas. 

Onshape

Using named views in Onshape

• Type: 2D/3D
• Students: Free 
• Commercial: $100/month
• OS: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android

If you missed our article covering cloud-based CAD, you might not have tried out this innovative CAD package. Onshape is a fully cloud-based CAD package that enables you to take the software anywhere you want, on any device. 

It’s delivered over the cloud as a Service, offering real-time data management and a collaborative mode that enables everyone on a team instant access to the same CAD files and workspace. Onshape’s education subscription is completely free for students and educators. Documents created with the Education Plan are tagged with a small EDU icon. The subscription lasts for one year after you sign up, but you can upgrade once more if you still qualify. 

Learning Resources

Onshape’s learning center offers students self-paced training in the form of courses called Learning Pathways. These courses are designed to help users accelerate their transition to full-cloud CAD. The pathways can vary from Onshape fundamentals to data management, and each pathway rewards learners with a completion certificate at the end. It’s also possible to register for live training provided virtually by Onshape instructors. 

The introduction to CAD series is a short online course that is perfect for people unfamiliar with CAD—it takes you through everything from basic features to collaboration and PDM. Onshape also provides a variety of tutorials that are essentially quick lessons for students who are familiar with CAD. 

PTC Creo

Parametric modeling in PTC Creo

• Type: 2D/3D
• Students: Free 
• Commercial: $2,200/year
• OS: Windows

Released in 1987, PTC Creo, formally Pro/ENGINEER, was one of the first major solid modelers in the CAD industry. Creo is an integrated 3D CAD, CAM and CAE solution predominantly used for mechanical engineering, design and manufacturing—often for large scale products like airplanes or ships. It’s a complex program to get to grips with, but it pays off with incredible precision.

PTC Creo is a parametric feature-based modeler that provides an extensive range of tools for solid and surface modeling capabilities. It has a range of analysis tools that cover thermal, static and dynamic finite element analysis to help with the development of a product. Creo also comes with collaborative features that enable large teams of designers and engineers to work on the same product easily and efficiently.

Learning Resources

If you’re new to Creo, you’ll find the solution to most of your problems in the PTC University Exchange. This online resource gives students the chance to explore thousands of tutorials for all PTC products. With it, you can learn anything from using the geometry selection filter to synchronizing orientation—whether your interest lies in parametric modeling or simulation, you’ll find everything you need here. 

PTC Services Academy gives recent graduates the chance to learn a variety of topics that can help them become a successful PTC consultant and future leader. Training includes instruction by PTC management and employees as well as learning through group work and practical experiences. 

The PTC Community gives students, educators and professors the chance to seek support for anything PTC-related. Students can share projects or issues and look for professional tips along the way. 

Solid Edge

• Type: 2D/3D
• Students: Free
• Commercial: $2,300/year
• OS: Windows

Solid Edge is a 3D CAD software developed by Siemens PLM Software. It’s a parametric feature-based and synchronous technology solid modeling software. This means that users can apply parametric relationships to solid features without having to depend on 2D sketch geometry.

It provides solid modeling, assembly modeling and a 2D orthographic view functionality. Users can customize the interface and work with fully intuitive design and sculpting tools. Solid Edge also comes with analysis tools that enable users to calculate the weight of materials for example, and even show errors when you try to design something that’s impossible to build.

Learning Resources

Siemens offers students the chance to select their own learning paths. These paths can vary depending on your level of experience—if you’re new to CAD, experienced with other systems or transitioning to synchronous technology. Siemens also provides a variety of tutorials that cover topics ranging from modeling parts with ordered features to modeling ordered contour flanges. 

You can also choose your own self-paced course, such as the fundamentals course. Alternatively, you can choose an instructor-led course from the library. 

ARCHICAD

• Type: 2D/3D
• Students: Free
• Commercial: $3,900/year
• OS: Windows, Mac

ARCHICAD is an architectural BIM and CAD software. It’s recognized as the first CAD product on a personal computer able to create both 2D and 3D geometry. It’s also hailed as the first commercial BIM product for personal computers. The product comes with 2D and 3D drafting capabilities, visualization and BIM functions.

ARCHICAD makes large teamwork projects easy—with advanced collaboration capabilities, teams can work on the same project in one platform. It features a fairly intuitive interface and an end-to-end BIM workflow. The product also offers solutions for calculations regarding factors such as climate, energy and materials. It even offers extensive libraries for architects.

Learning Resources

Graphisoft offers a series of approved training resources that are made for users with different levels of knowledge and interest. Each training volume includes a step-by-step PDF manual, narrated video clips and ARCHICAD project files for a more hands-on approach. 

DraftSight

• Type: 2D
• Students: Free 
• Commercial: $99/year professional version
• OS: Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, Fedora

DraftSight comes from Dassault Systèmes’ large portfolio—if you don’t know much about the company, check out Dassault Systèmes – Everything You Need To Know. It’s a 2D design and drafting solution that enables users to create, edit and view DWG files. There’s a free version, and a professional version that costs $99/year.

DraftSight has all of the essential functionality of AutoCAD including vector graphics, layers, blocks and dimensions. It’s easy to use and very intuitive—it can be a nice alternative to ‘heavier’ CAD packages that have a steep learning curve. It doesn’t have 3D capabilities but considering it’s free, you can’t really complain about that.

Learning Resources

Dassault is all about training which is why it has a host of learning resources to help maximize the DraftSight experience. You can begin with the getting started guide covering everything from tutorials on line commands to basic dimensioning. With almost 200 pages, you’ll be sure to find everything you need. 

If not, Dassault has also provided a series of Draftsight video tutorials. Needless to say, if you put in the effort you’ll be a DraftSight pro in no time at all. 

Discounted CAD Software

If the list of free CAD software isn’t enough for you, we’ve even included some packages that offer exclusive student discounts. You might be reluctant to spend any money on CAD, but you should definitely take advantage of these discounts while you can. 

SolidWorks

• Type: 2D/3D
• Student discount: $150 or less
• Commercial: $5,290 (standard with subscription)
• OS: Windows

SolidWorks is a renowned solid modeling CAD and CAE program used by millions of people across the world. In fact, Dassault Systèmes released it as the first significant 3D modeler for Windows—a huge landmark in the evolution of CAD. It’s used across a range of industries including aerospace, engineering and product design. 

SolidWorks is a parametric feature-based 3D modeling software. It can be used for auto-generated 2D drawings and advanced 3D modeling. Users can perform simulations and analyses like Finite Element Analysis to test their products before creating a physical prototype. It’s all about faster modeling and enhanced collaboration with SolidWorks. 

Learning Resources

SolidWorks gives students access to a resource center which includes exclusive tutorials ranging from full video tutorials to PDF guides and project files. It’s designed to help students become professional SolidWorks users. You can start from the beginning by looking at parts and assemblies, or go straight to the more advanced lessons. 

MySolidWorks is a learning platform with over 400 training videos. Students can learn SolidWorks at their own pace by accessing individual learning modules with explanations, videos and quizzes. It’s also possible to search for and get answers to questions. Not to mention, you can download free 2D/3D CAD models of user-contributed and supplier-certified parts and assemblies. You can even connect with the SolidWorks community via the education forum. 

CATIA

• Type: 2D/3D
• Student discount: $99/year
• Commercial: starting from $12,000
• OS: Windows, Unix

Another of Dassault’s products, CATIA is a 3D Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software suite that supports the entire process of product development. It comes with CAD, CAM and CAE capabilities to take users through the entire design process. CATIA started out in the aerospace industry, but has since branched out to others including architecture and design.

The product supports multiple stages of product design regardless of whether it’s started from scratch or from a 2D sketch. It also facilitates collaborative engineering—large teams can design these products in a real-life behavioral context. CATIA provides a wide range of applications for tooling design and enables users to create complex parametric objects.

Learning Resources

Dassault provides users with a resource center for CATIA-related topics. This center includes a variety of e-seminars on topics ranging from improving electrical design productivity to achieving fast fluid systems design. Students can also take advantage of the knowledge base which is essentially a forum where you can exchange questions, projects and find more tutorials. 

Another helpful feature is the CATIA user communities which connect you to communities in design, systems engineering, composites and much more. You can connect to fellow students and users to discuss any challenges you have and exchange ideas with your peers. 

NX Resources

• Type: 2D/3D
• Student discount: $98.95/year
• Commercial: $7,500/year
• OS: Windows, Mac, Unix

Another Siemens PLM Software product, NX Resources is an advanced CAD, CAM and CAE software package. It offers advanced solutions for conceptual design, 3D modeling and documentation. It also employs synchronous technology for flexible design in an open environment.

NX Resources is used for parametric and direct solid or surface modeling. It comes with engineering analysis tools that include Finite Element Method and Finite Volume Method. Users can also take advantage of simulation capabilities that come with structural, motion and thermal applications.

Learning Resources

Siemens offers self-paced training for free through Learning Advantage. This is an easy-to-use learning platform that provides students with online library access to more than 1,000 courses and assessments. It also includes augmented classroom experiences through online interactive learning. These self-assessment tools allow you to train at your own pace whilst tracking and recording your progress. 

If you want to connect with fellow users, check out the Siemens PLM Community. This gives you the ability to discuss projects, problems and ideas. In addition, you can take advantage of NX quick tips on YouTube. 

TurboCAD 

• Type: 2D/3D
• Student discount: $99.95/year
• Commercial: $109.95/year
• OS: Windows, Mac

TurboCAD is a 2D and 3D design and drafting software. There are three versions of the software: deluxe, professional and platinum. The further up this scale you go, the more capabilities you get and the more expensive the software is. You can get a student discount for any version. If you haven’t heard of TurboCAD, you’ve missed out on a user-friendly and affordable software package.

The product comes with general drafting tools as well as 3D architectural and mechanical design tools. Users can enjoy time-saving features like command lines which make the production process even shorter. TurboCAD also comes with customizable tool palettes and an intuitive user interface.

Learning Resources

TurboCAD has a variety of training packages on offer, however they’re not free. For basic training in TurboCAD 2D/3D it will cost you $49.99 whereas training for TurboCAD Pro Platinum will set you back $129.99. 

If you’re not willing to pay up for training, you can take advantage of the TurboCAD forum where you can share your own drawings and get feedback from other students. You can also discuss ideas, share problems and browse through plug-ins. The TurboCAD Wiki page also provides a host of incredible resources from tips and tricks to extensions. 

Rhinoceros 3D

• Type: 2D/3D
• Student discount: $128.95/year
• Commercial: $789.95/year
• OS: Windows

Rhinoceros 3D is a computer graphics and CAD application software. It’s based on the NURBS model which produces mathematically precise representations of curves and freeform surfaces. It’s popular in CAD, CAM, rapid prototyping and 3D printing. In addition, it’s used in a range of industries including architecture, product design and industrial design.

Rhinoceros 3D comes with advanced capabilities for creating and transforming 2D shapes for vector graphics. Users can even customize the interface and create custom commands and menus—not to mention take advantage of four different view angles. The product is even simple to use with a connected CNC machine.

Learning Resources

Rhinoceros has a resources page which gives users the chance to browse through websites that offer free 2D and 3D models in jewelry, architecture and much more. 

Students can access a range of video and PDF tutorials—from freeform modeling to visual tips. These tutorials are even categorized into ‘grasshopper classes‘ and ‘master classes‘ so you can learn at a pace suited to your experience level. If you like the sound of live instruction, you can find a class in your time zone and take it in the comfort of your own home. 

Extra Resources and Freebies

If you’re looking to become an expert in the world of CAD, you’ll need to take advantage of the best resources and freebies out there. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the top Scan2CAD resources that you should be using—you don’t even need to be a student!

Scan2CAD is a market-leading raster-to-vector conversion software. Its primary focus is converting technical drawings to usable editable vector images. The software comes with a raster and vector editing suite, batch processing and Smart OCR. You can get Scan2CAD for free—regardless of whether you’re a student or not—in a 14-day trial. 

For a better look at Scan2CAD’s capabilities, take a look at Scan2CAD: the ultimate vectorization software. 

If you love freebies, you’ll love Scan2CAD’s free DXF packs. These cut-ready DXF designs are ready for use in CNC—a huge advantage if you’re looking to start your own CNC projects. You get 6 or 7 designs in a DXF or JPG format each week if you subscribe. Want more? Check out 13 sites with free DXF designs. 

If you want to stay updated on all things CAD, CNC and CAM-related, Scan2CAD’s blog is the place to be. We cover topics ranging from SolidWorks tips and tricks, to how to build the ultimate CAD PC, to CNC machines compared. 

New to the world of CAD? Check out our ‘7 things you need to know’ series, covering everything from DXF files to vectorization and 3D printing. 

Find out with Scan2CAD’s exclusive guide to everything you need to know about CAD salaries. From the types of CAD jobs available, and the factors that impact your salary, to where you can find these jobs, we’ll provide you with all the essential statistics and information. Read on to find the right path for you.

Table of Contents

• CAD Salaries & Jobs: Overview
• Factors Impacting CAD Salaries
• CAD Careers and Salaries
• Career Advancement
• Essential Information Summary
• Pros & Cons
• Where to find CAD jobs
• Conclusion

CAD Salaries & Jobs: Overview

CAD salaries, like any other job salaries, are complicated. Firstly, your salary depends on which field you’re based in—whether it’s engineering, designing or drafting. The salaries for these jobs can then vary dramatically depending on further factors. How big is the company you’re looking to work for? Where is the job located? What is your skill set?

We’re going to look at the qualifications and skills you’ll need for jobs in five career sectors: CAD drafters, CAD technicians, CAD designers, CAD engineers and architects. We’ll also look at the many factors that will impact upon your prospective salary. But first, we’ll give you some general salaries that you might expect in these fields.

• CAD Drafters: $50,000.
• CAD Technicians: between $50,000 and $60,000.
• CAD Designers: $60,000+.
• Architects: $70,000+.
• CAD Engineers: between $80,000 and $90,000. 

Of course, these salaries vary dramatically depending on your chosen area of expertise. For precise figures, check out our CAD Careers and Salaries section. 

Factors Impacting CAD Salaries

As with any other job you would apply for, CAD job salaries can vary depending on many factors. Whether it’s your level of experience, your qualifications or even your location—all have an impact on your current or prospective CAD salary. 

1. Qualifications 

There are many qualifications and skills that can be required for CAD careers. We’re going to break them down into 3 main categories: education, licenses and internships. 

Education

Associate’s Degree

Typically, drafters and technicians require an associate’s degree for entry-level positions. This is a 2-year degree which can be undertaken at any technical institute. There are advantages to completing this degree—it’s cost-effective, it doesn’t take as much time as other degrees, and it can help you get your grades up if you want to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Bachelor’s Degree

If you want to become a CAD designer or an engineer, you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree. This degree typically takes between 4 to 5 years of study, which can be completed at colleges or online schools. Many people opt for this degree type, as it can boost earning potential, and is, more often than not, the first required step for many careers.

Master’s Degree

If you’re looking to up your earning potential and reach for managerial or supervisory positions, you may need to obtain a master’s degree. This degree is pursued after a bachelor’s degree, and is completed in 2 years. Many people opt for this degree as it can highlight expertise in a particular field. While it isn’t a compulsory step, it is advised for candidates who want to pursue higher salaries. 

Licenses

Most CAD sectors will either require employees to obtain a license, or will at the very least push employees towards it. These licenses are ways to highlight your competence in your chosen field—which is appealing to potential employers. In fact, some CAD jobs will require you to complete a license in order to move up to a managerial position. We’ll take a look at the general ones you can expect below.

CAD drafters can receive certification from the American Design Drafting Association (ADDA). While it isn’t mandatory, it is recommended as it can demonstrate a high level of competence and knowledge of drafting standards. This can be offered in different specialities including architectural, civil and mechanical drafting.

CAD engineers don’t necessarily need a license for entry-level positions, but managerial positions will require one. The Professional Engineering (PE) license allows engineers higher levels of leadership and independence. Licensed engineers are called Professional Engineers (PEs) who can then oversee the work of other engineers and sign off on projects.

Architects are required to sit for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) alongside voluntary certification from NCARB. 

Some designers, such as interior designers, are also required to pass state-approved exams like the NCIDQ. 

You will need to research carefully into what types of licenses your particular field requires you to have—after all, it could be the difference between an entry-level position and a supervisory position.

Internships

Experience is vital to any career you pursue—especially CAD careers. While most CAD careers like drafters or designers don’t necessarily require internships, they can prove useful for building up a portfolio and overall experience. For other careers, such as architecture, internships are a necessity. Architects have to complete 3 years in a paid internship—and that’s before they even can sit the ARE exam. 

Whether your CAD career lists internships as a necessity or not, you should seriously consider it. One year—or even one month—can set you apart from your contenders: exactly what you need to stand out in a competitive field.

If you’re not sure where to start with internships, don’t worry—Scan2CAD has you covered. 

Listed below are 5 resources that you can use to find internships in your relevant field. Simply type in your keywords (e.g. “mechanical engineer“) and you will be able to look through the wide variety of relevant internships available. Don’t forget to filter according to location or paid/unpaid internships. 

1. Look Sharp
2. Internships
3. Vault
4. Internship Programs
5. Intern Jobs

2. Experience

Experience can have a huge impact on your CAD salary—and by experience, we mean experience in a relevant job. The longer you work in a field, the more skills and experience you pick up—making you more appealing to potential employers. As such, entry-level employees can expect a much lower salary when compared to mid-career (5-10 years) or experienced (10-20 years) employees.

To give you a rough idea, we’ve listed the difference in salary between entry-level employees and experienced, by broad CAD sectors. Please note that these statistics by Payscale are based upon a small sample of respondents—for our purposes, they’re only a guideline intended to highlight just how much experience can affect your salary.

Length of Career	CAD Drafters	CAD Technicians	CAD Designers	CAD Engineers
Late-Career (20 years+)	24%	38%	30%	24%
Experienced (10-20 years)	19%	24%	13%	10%
Mid-Career (5-10 years)	6%	7%	2%	7%
National Average	$40,000	$40,000	$48,000	$56,000
Entry-Level (0-5 years)	-9%	-10%	-14%	-9%

Source: PayScale

As you can see, your level of experience can have a huge impact on your overall salary. Typically, the more experience you have, the more your salary is likely to increase. 

3. Location & Industry

Experience isn’t the only factor that can affect your salary. Your location and your chosen industry will also have a huge impact. Some states offer higher salaries than others, with Alaska, for example, offering some of the highest in the nation. It’s also worth noting that some job sectors also offer higher salaries, such as Metal Ore Mining. 

In addition, job growth will also depend on which particular industry sector you work in. Many of the jobs involved in manufacturing will see a decline in job growth—resulting in some employees being laid off. In fact, many CAD careers will be tied to the economy, so when there’s an economic recession of any kind, these jobs will feel the brunt of it. 

If you’re interested in just how much location and industry can impact your salary, check out the section below!

CAD Careers & Salaries

And now the part you’ve all been waiting for—CAD careers and their specific salaries. Not only have we included summaries of the jobs, we’ve also added the projected job growth between 2014 and 2024, their median annual wage and the top paying state and industry! 

CAD Drafters

Electrical/Electronics Drafter

Median Annual Wage: $59,520
Job Outlook: 5%
Top Paying State: Washington at $79,400
Top Paying Industry: Audio & Video Equipment Manufacturing at $80,760

Electrical/electronics drafters take the information provided by engineers and architects to create technical drawings of electrical wiring systems in power plants, communication hubs and so on. They also create drawings of wiring diagrams for the manufacturing, installation or repair of certain electrical equipment.

Employment is projected to grow 5%, which is fairly average for most occupations. There’s always need for continued work on the electrical system designs in buildings, cars and devices.

Mechanical Drafter

Median Annual Wage: $53,520
Job Outlook: -7%
Top Paying State: Washington at $73,450
Top Paying Industry: Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas at $76,990

Mechanical drafters prepare technical drawings of machinery and other mechanical devices in industries such as manufacturing. Their diagrams will often include information such as dimension size, fastening methods and other engineering information. This work will often include long hours, due to the need for constant modifications.

There’s a projected decline in employment, possibly due to the fact that CAD software enables companies to do more than they could a decade ago—eliminating the need for some drafters. 

Civil/Architectural Drafter

Median Annual Wage: $50,710
Job Outlook: -3%
Top Paying State: Alaska at $61,400
Top Paying Industry: Scientific Research & Development Services at $75,390

These drafters create drawings for construction purposes. A civil drafter will incorporate the terrain and topography of the building site, and an architectural drafter will show how the structure can integrate with the surrounding environment. This work will involve survey documentation, topographic maps and an understanding of the environment. 

There’s a projected decline in employment of 3%; this could be due to the fact that many engineers and architects now look to CAD and BIM for drafting, as opposed to relying on drafters.

Technicians

Source: apnrecruitment.co.uk

Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technician

Median Annual Wage: $61,130
Job Outlook: -2%
Top Paying State: Alaska at $84,450
Top Paying Industry: Newspaper, Periodical, Book and Directory Publishers at $82,010

These technicians are responsible for electrical maintenance and assisting in the upkeep of electrical equipment. They also analyze circuits, wiring diagrams and drawings to install, repair or modify electronic systems or devices. 

This position is in slight decline, which isn’t very surprising in traditional manufacturing industries. That being said, there is a slight demand in the computer systems design services for products involving GPS, for example.

Mechanical Engineering Technician

Median Annual Wage: $53,910
Job Growth: 2%
Top Paying State: Delaware at $69,610
Top Paying Industry: Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil at $88,220

These technicians work with engineers to develop or improve products and machinery. They make the entire manufacturing process more efficient by improving upon existing processes. They analyze existing schematics, products and machinery, looking for ways to make them more efficient. 

Job growth is slower than the average occupation growth—it’s predominantly projected to decline in manufacturing industries. Many firms hire outside consultants at a lower cost, than employing in-house technicians—thus eliminating many job prospects.

Civil Engineering Technician

Median Annual Wage: $49,260
Job Growth: 5%
Top Paying State: Alaska at $70,000
Top Paying Industry: Metal Ore Mining at $63,390

Civil engineering technicians are responsible for assisting civil engineers working on construction projects. Essentially, they’re an assistant who creates plans, surveys sites and inspects projects. Technicians handle the jobs that engineers don’t have the time for—from documentation and analytics, to cost estimates.

There’s a projected increase of 5% for employment, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. The need to repair, modify and create the country’s infrastructure will undoubtedly continue to increase. 

Industrial Engineering Technician

Median Annual Wage: $53,780
Job Growth: -5%
Top Paying State: Alaska at $89,120
Top Paying Industry: Oil and Gas Extraction at $77,350

Industrial engineering technicians help industrial engineers implement designs. These designs will be used to make production as effective as possible—by analyzing production costs, preparing machinery layouts and planning workflows. Typically, these technicians will work in teams under the supervision of industrial engineers. 

Employment is projected to decline 5%, due to the projected decline in manufacturing industries. Despite this, there will be a continued demand for cost control through increase efficiency.

Designers

Source: ahraycho

Industrial Designer

Median Annual Wage: $67,130
Job Growth: 2%
Top Paying State: Nevada at $78,680
Top Paying Industry: Support Activities for Mining at $95,270

Industrial designers create products and develop concepts for products that are manufactured at factories, such as toys, cars and home appliances. They combine art, business and engineering to make products that people use every day. In doing so, they have to take into consideration the functionality of the product, its aesthetics, usability and production costs.

Employment is set to grow 2%, which is slower than the average for all occupations. However, consumer demand for new products and styles will sustain the overall demand for industrial designers.

Fashion Designer

Median Annual Wage: $63,670
Job Growth: 3%
Top Paying State: Georgia at $87,960
Top Paying Industry: Motion Picture and Video Industries at $86,380

Fashion designers create designs for clothing, shoes, accessories, and other pieces. They sketch their concepts, select fabrics and give instructions as to how the product can be made. These designers need a strong knowledge of fabrics, and a portfolio demonstrating their overall skills.

Employment is projected to grow 3%, which is slower than average. There’s an overall decline in the apparel manufacturing industry, which impacts fashion designers. Despite this, there’s still a growing need for fashion-inspired clothing for the mass market. 

Interior Designer

Median Annual Wage: $48,840
Job Growth: 4%
Top Paying State: District of Columbia at $86,410
Top Paying Industry: Activities Related to Real Estate at $78,530

Interior designers make interior spaces—such as homes or offices—functional, safe and aesthetically pleasing. They select decorative items, including colors and materials, to enhance the living or working environment. They are also required to have a knowledge of building codes and inspection regulations, in addition to universal accessibility standards.

Employment is projected to grow 4%, due to the constant need for structures to meet certain conditions. There’s always a need for interior design, particularly in long-term projects.

Architects

Architect

Median Annual Wage: $76,100
Job Growth: 7%
Top Paying State: California at $97,880
Top Paying Industry: Lessors of Real Estate at $114,430

Architects plan and design structures—everything from homes and offices to airports and factories. They are responsible for working with clients to draw and draft the design of their desired structure. Their designs are in-depth and include accurate specifications such as dimensions and materials.

Employment is projected to grow 7% which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. This isn’t surprising, as there’s a constant need for new structures, with an increasing emphasis on creating sustainable buildings. The use of CADD and BIM also gives architects the ability to do more without the help of drafters.

Engineers

Electrical/Electronics Engineer

Median Annual Wage: $93,010
Job Growth: 0%
Top Paying State: California at $115,960
Top Paying Industry: Oil and Gas Extraction at $129,630

Electrical engineers design, develop, test and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment such as communications systems. They look at ways to improve products by designing new ways to use electrical power. They also need to ensure that products that they are manufacturing or installing meet specifications and codes.

Employment is projected to show little to no change. This is due to the slow growth or decline in most manufacturing sectors. Research and development sectors will continue to show growth, however, with the constant need to look to improve the ways we use electricity.

Mechanical Engineer

Median Annual Wage: $83,590
Job Growth: 5%
Top Paying State: Alaska at $130,420
Top Paying Industry: Oil and Gas Extraction at $146,740

Mechanical engineers research, design, develop and test mechanical devices. They design devices and processes to solve practical problems. They research designs and make recommendations based on industry standards, regulations and customer needs. These engineers also test their prototypes—analyzing the results and making changes where required.

There’s a projected increase of 5% in employment, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Mechanical engineers have an advantage, as they can enter most sectors and are able to work on a variety of projects.

Civil Engineer

Median Annual Wage: $82,220
Job Growth: 8%
Top Paying State: Alaska at $110,050
Top Paying Industry: Oil and Gas Extraction at $130,750

Civil engineers design, build and supervise construction projects and systems in the public and private sector. These can range from small-scale projects, like road repairs, to large-scale projects such as airports. These engineers can work in different sectors, including the structural, environmental and transportation sectors.

There’s a projected increase of 8% in employment, which is as fast as the average of all occupations. Infrastructure ages, so there’s always a constant need to modify and improve upon it—civil engineers are a vital part in all of this work.

Industrial Engineer

Median Annual Wage: $83,470
Job Growth: 1%
Top Paying State: Alaska at $117,960
Top Paying Industry: Other Pipeline Transportation at $128,490

Industrial engineers look for ways to eliminate wastefulness in all production processes, including machinery, processes and workers. They seek to increase efficiency by working on improvement strategies involving worker training, scheduling changes and maintenance on existing hardware. These engineers also determine the quality or reliability requirements of the product in production.

Employment is projected to show little to no change. Industrial engineers are versatile, and can work in a wide variety of sectors—which is a huge advantage. However, this position is impacted upon by the overall decline in many manufacturing sectors.

Career Advancement

In any job sector, there’s always the possibility of career advancement. Although the next career step will vary depending on your field, it will generally be a managerial or supervisory position. Here are a few example career steps:

• Senior mechanical designer
• Project manager
• CAD manager
• Senior drafter
• Drafting supervisor

As with any other job, career advancement to these types of jobs will require more experience. For example, engineering managers need to have had experience with working under the guidance of a more experienced engineer. In addition, the ‘candidate’ would have to obtain a PE license, because only licensed engineers can assume particular responsibilities. The salaries from these types of jobs can range from $60,000 up to $90,000 and over.

In fact, an Engineering Manager for example, has a median annual wage of $132,800—that’s around $50,000 more than the annual wage for CAD engineers!

So if you’re looking to earn the big bucks, career advancement is the way forward. You can make the process to advancement easier by improving your experience and skills—thus making you stand out to your employers or potential employers. A bachelor’s or master’s degree would highlight your expertise within your chosen field, and a license catered to your field would also open many doors. Whilst further education like a master’s degree might be costly, it will pay off in the long run. 

Essential Information Summary

If you’re only interested in the facts and figures—check out our handy table below. This summarizes all of the essential statistics and information that you might want to know about CAD salaries. From median annual wages to required education, the highest paying state and industry, and even projected job growth for the next 10 years, we’ve got all the information you need. 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pros & Cons

Thinking of taking a career in CAD? Want to know if it’s worth your time? Check out the pros and cons below…

Pros

 There’s room for career advancement and high-end salaries.

 Some CAD jobs (drafters and technicians) only require a 2-year associate’s degree.

 There’s the possibility of freelance work.

 It can be flexible—it’s possible to make the move from a technician to an engineer, for example. 

 Despite varying projections of job growth, the CAD sector has a constant need for employees.

Cons

 High-end salaries can be difficult to achieve.

 Further education like a master’s degree is timely and costly.

 CAD jobs can be tied to the economy—so when there’s a recession, many lose their jobs.

 Job growth is dependent on which field you’re in—some are much lower than others. 

If you’re really interested in CAD salaries, and are looking for ways to increase yours—you should seriously consider these pros and cons. It can take a long time to increase your salary, and ultimately it’s all down to how much work you’re willing to put in and whether the job really is the right fit for you. As always, research is key. 

Where to Find CAD Jobs

If you’re not sure where to start the search for your new CAD job, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. As with any other job search, you just need to take a look at the many job databases available. Here’s a list of some top job sites to get you started:

• Career Builder
• Indeed
• Monster
• Career Jet

Just choose your relevant keywords like ‘Mechanical Engineer‘ and narrow down your search by location and salary—and start hunting for your perfect position!

Alternatively, if you’re interested in one-off projects or freelance work, you can check out these sites below. They work in the same way as generic job sites—just sign up, set up a profile and apply for the freelance work that people have posted. 

• Upwork
• Cadcrowd
• Guru
• Peopleperhour

If you’re looking for ways to increase your chances of success, here are a few extra tips:

• Stay up to date on the latest software. To increase your chances of success, you should keep an eye on software trends. You might find a job role that is perfect for you, only to find that they work with SolidWorks—which you don’t use. Sharpen your skills—it will help you in the long run.
• Only apply for internships and jobs that are relevant to you. It’s tempting to apply for anything that comes your way, but this will just waste your time. Only apply for jobs that are fitted to your skills and qualifications.
• Look for ways to improve. Whether it’s getting a license, or continuing your education with a master’s degree, there are always ways to improve your overall appeal to potential employers. 
• Check out relevant blogs. Computer Aided Design is constantly changing, so you need to stay on top of news and trends. Scan2CAD’s news section, for example, covers the latest developments and announcements in the world of CAD. 

Conclusion

No matter what field you’re interested in, it’s clear that there are many CAD options available. Whether it’s drafting, technical engineering, designing or architecture—there’s something for everyone. While they all differ a great deal in regards to future job growth, it is clear that CAD careers hold the potential for immense success.

Salaries will always vary—as we’ve shown, there are many factors involved. It can fluctuate depending on your industry sector, your location and your experience level. What is clear however, is that if you make the effort and go the extra mile, you can achieve an impressive salary.

While you might start out at an ‘unreasonable’ salary level, you need to remember that you have to work for that dream salary. Research is key—so make sure you’re aware of the steps you need to take to unlock your true earning potential.

Interested in more information surrounding CAD careers? Check out AutoCAD Careers—Everything You Need To Know. Alternatively, if you’re thinking of going freelance, take a look at Freelance CAD—Everything You Need To Know.  

Check out our freelance CAD guide covering everything you need to know—from calculating your hourly rate, to increasing your chances of success, to the pros and cons of freelance work.

Table of Contents

• What Does Freelance CAD Involve?
• What Qualifications or Skills Are Needed?
• Common Mistakes Made by Freelancers
• Increase Your Chances of Success
• How Much Should You Charge Clients?
• Pros & Cons
• Where To Find Freelance Jobs

What Does Freelance CAD Involve?

If you’re working as a freelancer in the CAD industry, the odds are that you’re either a freelance CAD designer or a freelance design engineer. A designer will work on creating drawings and models from the specifications of the client, whilst an engineer will be responsible for the concept, the implementation, the cost and the testing.

CAD freelancers are typically hired by engineering or architectural firms, or individual clients, to work on particular projects. These projects may take mere weeks to complete, or they may take months—it’s all circumstantial. You might also be asked to work remotely from home, or to travel to the client’s location. For a better idea of what to expect, here are a few potential tasks in the day-to-day life of a freelance CAD professional:

• Designing or re-designing drawings from client specifications.
• Communicating with the client or project team for task requirements, or approval for design concepts.
• Liaising with teams, e.g. to obtain reference information, or to resolve issues with existing designs.
• Getting designs approved by clients, or creating alternative concepts to meet new requirements.
• Producing CAD drawings for products using industry standards.

What Qualifications or Skills Are Needed?

Qualifications

As with many other jobs or industries, the more qualifications you typically have, the more appealing you will look to potential employers or clients (at least that’s what we were told at school!). CAD is a very competitive industry, so you need to be prepared to do as much as you can to compete with others. Here are a few steps that you could take:

• Complete a 2-year associate’s degree in drafting. This can be undertaken at a technical institute. This will typically give you access to entry-level jobs.
• Continue your education. If you have the time and money, you might benefit from a bachelor’s degree, or even a master’s degree. CAD is a competitive industry, so any advantage might help you in the long run. 
• Get a license.  The American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) offers certifications which will highlight your competence and knowledge of CAD drafting.
• Complete an internship. Experience is everything, so a relevant internship would definitely be beneficial. 

Skills

CAD freelancers should seek to improve their skills as much as they can, to stand out to potential clients. You need to put in the time and the effort to really reap the rewards in the future. Here are a few typical skills that you will need with freelance CAD:

• Adaptability with different CAD software. Some companies will work with Autodesk software, others will work with SolidWorks—you should try to be as versatile as possible. (NB. If you are a SolidWorks user, be sure to check out our guide to SolidWorks Careers.)
• Familiarity with both 2D and 3D design. 
• Ability to work remotely. You won’t have a boss breathing down your neck or motivating you to complete your work—you’re on your own, so you have to make sure you’re comfortable with that.
• Speed. Deadlines are set in stone—so if you miss them, the odds are that the client won’t return to you for later work. You need to make the best impression possible, and good timekeeping is essential. (That said, no one likes a rushed job, either—you shouldn’t be sacrificing quality for speed!)

Common Mistakes Made By Freelancers

Navigating the world of freelance work can be difficult—there aren’t really any rules or official guidelines for it. So, more often than not, freelancers will find themselves tripping up over small (or large) mistakes. If you want to be really successful as a CAD freelancer, you need to learn from your mistakes—check out a few of the most common ones below.

Charging clients too little

You don’t have the benefits of full-time employment anymore, so you need to take into consideration holidays, sick days and extra expenses. You (quite literally) cannot afford to charge too little for your work.

Taking on too many clients

With the lack of security in freelance work, it’s easy to feel pressured into taking on too many clients. But that doesn’t mean you should—it can lead to low-quality work and missed deadlines. The important thing is to build up a solid client base. 

Taking deadlines as guidelines

Especially when starting out, you can’t afford to miss deadlines, even if it’s just by an hour or a day. Your client is depending on you to get the job done in the chosen time frame—if you miss it, you look unprofessional, and the client will likely never return.

Not maintaining a client base/network

It doesn’t matter if you haven’t worked with a particular client in months—send them an email, and see if they have any work for you. Creating and maintaining strong relationships is a vital aspect to freelancing.

Not creating terms and conditions

Your client will have terms and conditions, and so should you—whether it’s your payment preference, or your conditions regarding out-of-hours phone calls. This will prevent any issues along the way should your client prove to be difficult.

Increase Your Chances of Success

In addition to avoiding the above mistakes, there are steps you can take to increase your likelihood of success. You have to remember that you need to put in hard work and effort to succeed in any job—especially in freelance work.

• Offer minimum-fee projects. If you’re only just starting out, you should offer clients cheap projects. This will help you build up a base of clients. Once you’ve got a few prospects, you can start charging a typical hourly rate.
• Create your own website or blog. This is the perfect way to advertise your work or portfolio. It gives potential clients an idea of what you’re capable of. 
• Advertise your work and projects on social media. It’s a great way to self-endorse and reach out to potential clients.
• Try to build up your skills in CAD. Whether it’s learning how to use new CAD software, or obtaining a new CAD license, this will give you the option to broaden your skills and diversify your qualifications.

How Much Should You Charge Clients?

There isn’t really a standard figure for freelance work, as how much you charge depends on many factors. You have to take into consideration your level of experience and your skill set—you can’t expect clients to pay a high rate if you’re inexperienced with a small set of skills. Some locations have clients that are willing to pay higher hourly rates, and if a project is going to take a long amount of time, your rate will likely decrease. And if your competitors are charging a lot less than you, you might have to lower your prices to keep up.

Additionally, it’s worth remembering that freelance work isn’t constant—you have to charge more than you might have made at a company simply because you’re not working all the time and you have to pay for your own expenses.

How To Calculate Your Hourly Rate

1.  Choose your salary.
Typical CAD jobs like CAD drafters will average $45,000-$50,000—in this example, we’ll use the higher end of this range, $50,000.

2. Calculate your expenses.
Now you’re self-employed, you have to take care of extra expenses. Let’s assume you’re working from home so you don’t have to cover the cost of an office. You still need to take into consideration the cost of:

• Your internet connection
• A phone
• A new laptop every 2 years (as recommended)
• CAD software like Autodesk or SolidWorks
• Other computer software
• Promotion/marketing costs, e.g. business cards and ads
• Self-employment tax
• Healthcare costs

These expenses could add up to anywhere between $10,000 a year to $25,000. Let’s make it $15,000 in this example.

3. Calculate your annual salary.
Your target salary is $50,000 and your expenses are $15,000—simply add these together to get an annual target income of $65,000.

4. Determine your billable hours.
This is the amount of hours you’ll be billing clients for in a year. Assuming you’re taking say, 3 weeks of vacation, 7 US holidays and 5 sick days (216 hours), you’re left with 1,864 hours in a year. However, as a new freelancer you’ll be spending half of your time searching for new clients—so, your actual billable hours may end up being closer to half of this overall number of hours—giving you 932 billable hours. This will increase as you build up your client base and no longer have to spend time looking for work.

5. Make your final calculations.
Firstly divide your annual salary of $65,000 by your number of billable hours which is 932. This will then leave you with $69.74—we’ll round this up to an even $70. And there you have your hourly rate. Obviously, this will vary depending on your individual expenses and so forth.

So how much should you actually charge?

Hourly rates are used by many freelancers, but that doesn’t mean it’s your only option. Some freelancers also charge clients per project.

Let’s imagine this scenario:

You’ve been asked to create designs from a client’s specifications. It only takes you 4 hours to complete—if we use your hourly rate, that’s $280. But when you think about it, your drawing is worth far more than that—in fact, other CAD freelancers might have charged twice that amount. So essentially, you’ve been undercharged for your high-quality work, because you happen to be fast at what you do.

These types of situations push many freelancers to charge by project rather than by hour. Clients care about the value of the work and the end product. There isn’t really a formula for calculating the cost of a project—it’s all about how much you think it’s worth (within reason of course). For more information, check out how to price yourself as a freelancer.

If you’re only just starting out with CAD freelancing, you might be best charging by the hour to start with. Once you’ve built up a client base, you’ll have steady work coming in. Then, you’ll be able to figure out how you handle heavy workloads, and how quickly you complete tasks.

Pros & Cons of Freelance CAD

Thinking of taking a career in freelance CAD? Check out the pros and cons below to see if it really is the best fit for you…

Pros 

 Freedom of job choice. You get to pick and choose which clients you want to work for—everything is up to you.

 Chance to build up a network. Freelancing gives you the opportunity to work with a lot of different people, which can build up your overall network. 

 Possibility of higher pay. If you build up a big enough client base and you’ve accumulated enough experience, you could be making more money than you would in a company job. 

 More job opportunities. You’ll have a more diverse range of jobs and projects to work on—some clients might even rehire you if you’ve made a big enough impression. 

Cons

 Lack of stability and no consistent paycheck. Job opportunities aren’t a certainty—so you might find yourself short on work some months, which is troubling if you have no savings. 

 Menial jobs. Some clients will want you to do basic jobs that are more in the field of broad IT than CAD—and without a consistent paycheck, you’ll probably have to accept the job. 

 No employment benefits. You won’t have a company paying for your holidays or healthcare—which is a lot to fork out for.

Obviously, the pros and cons will differ depending on how long you’ve worked in the CAD industry, and what qualifications you have. Undoubtedly, you’ll experience more of the cons when you start out, while the pros will most likely increase once you’ve found your footing in freelance work.

Where To Find Freelance Jobs

If you’re interested in becoming a CAD freelancer, you might be wondering where you can find work. As a starting point, here’s a list of sites that are catered to freelance work:

• Upwork
• Peopleperhour
• Cadcrowd
• Guru

All you need to do is sign up to these sites and create a profile. Once you have, you can start applying for freelance work that people have posted.

Alternatively, you could check out this list of more generic job sites—you just need to choose your keywords, e.g. ‘CAD’ and ‘Freelance’, and start searching!

• Indeed
• Career Builder
• Career Jet
  
• Monster

Just make sure that you research carefully into prospective clients and projects—you don’t want to rush into something, only to find that you’re not capable of following through. As always, research is key—there are opportunities out there, you just need to be patient.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration before making the big jump to freelance work. You need to take into consideration the sheer cost involved. There’s the issue of freelance work being unstable—particularly when you first start out and don’t have a client base to rely on. There’s also the issue of trying to calculate an hourly rate that will both sustain you, and appeal to your potential clients.

While these issues can be rather daunting, it’s clear that freelance work can be very rewarding if you put in the effort. You can be your own boss, set your own deadlines and choose your own projects. You have the possibility of higher pay, and you can work as flexibly as you wish.

As with most things in life, you have to weigh up every factor individually—research is key. You can’t make a commitment to freelance work on a whim. But if you have the drive and the patience, you could find a lucrative future as a CAD freelancer.

If you’re interested in more information surrounding CAD careers, check out AutoCAD Careers – Everything You Need To Know.

Check out our handy guide for an overview of AutoCAD careers and all the statistics you need to know—salaries, certifications, responsibilities, and even pros and cons. Scan2CAD has it all! 

AutoCAD Jobs

As we’ve already mentioned, AutoCAD is used across various industries, which is why it’s a prerequisite skill for many potential jobs. In fact, some sectors will have it as part of the potential job title, e.g. ‘AutoCAD Electrical Drafter’. But regardless, possessing this skill actually opens your world up to the possibility of landing lucrative career, as the CAD jobs are well-paying with high salaries. For more on this, check out our analysis on the highest paying jobs in the CAD industry.

Although there are many AutoCAD career options out there, we’re going to concentrate on four main groups: 

1. Drafting
2. Engineering
3. Architecture
4. Design

Drafting Jobs in CAD Industry

Drafters use software like AutoCAD to convert the designs of engineers or architects into technical drawings and blueprints. These drawings will be used to create structures, tools or machines. The designs also include specifications like dimensions, materials and procedures.

Software like AutoCAD has become a necessity in this career sector, as it enables people to create designs that can be reworked and modified. Unlike a real-world prototype, an AutoCAD prototype can be improved until it functions perfectly. This same software can also be used to simulate how well a prototype will function under stress or high-pressure. And with AutoCAD’s extensive libraries and templates, the possibilities have, consequently, become endless. 

Here are the most common drafting jobs in the CAD industry (CAD drafter jobs):

1. Mechanical drafter
2. Electrical drafter
3. Electronics drafter
4. Civil drafter
5. Architectural drafter

1. Mechanical Drafter

Average Salary: $62,650 (Data released March 2022)

Mechanical Drafter Responsibilities

• Draft layouts and sketches
• Create 2D drawings of 3D models
• Update and revise 2D drawings based on engineer’s recommendations
• Produce estimates and specifications
• Determine equipment and material to be used
• Generate reports
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of drafts
• Calculate engineering properties such as stress, strain, etc. as well as resolve design problems
• Specify dimensions of parts
• Test and document component testing
• Manage and store drawings and drawing files electronically and safeguard their quality 

Mechanical Drafter Certifications

• Mechanical Certified Drafter (CD): Certified by American Design Drafting Association (ADDA)
• ADDA Mechanical Apprentice Drafter 
• Certified Technology Specialist-Design: Certified by the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA)
• Certified Design Drafter: Certified by ADDA
• Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Revit for Mechanical Design
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Inventor for Mechanical Design
• Autodesk Certified Associate in CAD for Mechanical Design

About Mechanical Drafters

Mechanical drafters are responsible for creating technical drawings for machinery or mechanical devices, often including factors like dimension or fastening methods. These drawings will then be used for the assembly or construction of the machines or mechanical devices. These drafters are also responsible for analyzing factors like weight, volume and dimensions—advising engineers when any corrections need to be made. 

AutoCAD is useful for running simulations of designs—allowing drafters to review them for manufacturability and functionality, and make relevant modifications.

2. Electrical and Electronics Drafter 

Average Salary: $67,090

There are two categories of electrical and electronics drafters: 

• Electrical drafters
• Electronics drafters

Electrical Drafter Responsibilities

• Prepare wiring diagrams for installation or repairing works in commercial buildings, power plants, or electricity distribution stations
• Create visual guidelines for construction purposes
• Outline dimensions, materials, and procedures
• Explain concepts to installation crews
• Supervising installation and repairs
• Inspecting and testing installed works
• Generate user manuals, technical documentation, and installation guides

Electronics Drafter Responsibilities

• Generate wire, schematic, block, control, and logic diagrams
• Prepare assembly diagrams for circuit boards and layout diagrams used in manufacturing, installation, or repair of electronic devices or parts
• Develop specifications by referencing and examining electronic schematics and documents
• Program drawings into automated manufacturing systems
• Draft technical details
• Plot electrical test points
• Determine and define all design elements

Electrical and Electronics Drafter Certifications

• Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Revit for Electrical Design

About Electrical Drafters

Electrical drafters prepare technical plans for the manufacturing, installation or repair of wiring systems. They analyze information given to them by engineers, and apply their knowledge to create specifications that include factors like dimension and installation procedures. This type of drafting can be used in a variety of locations, including homes, power plants and communication hubs. 

About Electronics Drafters

Electronics drafters are generally responsible for drafting wiring diagrams, layout diagrams, schematics, and circuit board assembly diagrams used in the manufacture, installation, or repair of electronic components or equipment. Unlike electrical drafters who can work on commercial buildings or homes, electronics drafters are confined to their offices as they work for manufacturers or repair shops.

AutoCAD’s library of electrical symbols enables both electrical and electronics drafters to create detailed plans, and even estimated material costs. 

3. Architectural Drafter

Average Salary: $60,620

Architectural Drafter Responsibilities

• Prepare architectural drawings – using CAD software – based on codes, specifications, and available space
• Visit and collect dimensions and measurements on-site
• Organize electrical and structural drawings in order to incorporate them into architectural drawings
• Work with the architect to ensure the project meets the design specifications
• Determine and specify the type of material needed and their quantity
• Generate cost estimates and prepare contracts in collaboration with the architect

Architectural Drafter Certifications

• Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Revit for Architectural Design
• ADDA Architectural Certified Drafter
• ADDA Architectural Apprentice Drafter
• Graphisoft Certified ArchiCAD Professional

About Architectural Drafters

Architectural drafters produce blueprints and drawings for foundations, buildings and structures. These designs are used in the construction or remodeling of homes, commercial buildings and power stations, for example. These drafters will work with both exterior and interior structures—taking into consideration factors like weight, volume and stress when creating their designs.

AutoCAD enables architectural drafters to draw elements with real-world behavior—with an extensive library of components to create floor plans and 3D renderings. 

4. Civil Drafter

Average Salary: $60,620

Civil Drafter Responsibilities

• Produce drawings using CAD software
• Draft 2D plans and detailed drawings of different structural components for construction projects
• Transform rough sketches and drawings from civil engineers into designs that conform to civil engineering codes and specifications
• Use surveys and cross sections to draw maps, contour diagrams, and profiles that represent elevations, topography, and subsurface structures and formations
• Interpret, modify, and correlate data from geophysical prospecting reports, logs, and topographical surveys
• Conduct or oversee field surveys, technical investigations, and inspections to acquire data to use in the drafting process
• Explain drawings to construction teams
• Calculate engineering parameters such as load, stress, strain as well as their impact on the design
• Determine and specify the quantity, quality, cost, and strength of materials
• Calculate cut and fill tonnage
• Determine the method of presenting the drawings, i.e., whether isometric or orthographic

Civil Drafter Certifications

• Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Revit for Structural Design
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Civil 3d for Infrastructure Design
• ADDA Civil Certified Design Drafter
• ADDA Civil Certified Design Technician
• ADDA Civil Certified Senior Designer

About Civil Drafters

Civil drafters produce drawings for structures, installations and construction projects like water systems, roads, bridges and flood control projects. These drawings also include topographical maps and diagrams to represent elevation. Civil drafters are responsible for reviewing designs produced by civil engineers to ensure they conform to design concepts. They also determine the quality or cost of materials used, and calculate the weight, volume and stress of their designs. 

Image source: gbccadd.com

Engineering Jobs in CAD Industry

Engineers use software like AutoCAD to produce designs and specifications for the manufacturing or modification of mechanical components or systems. AutoCAD enables them to design these parts, and run simulations—testing factors like stress endurance to see how well these designs will function in high-pressure situations. It’s also useful for running cost estimates and checking factors like dimension, volume or weight. 

The most common engineering jobs in the CAD industry are:

1. Mechanical engineer
2. Electrical engineer
3. Electronics engineer
4. Civil engineer
5. Industrial engineer

1. Mechanical Engineer

Average Salary: $97,000

Mechanical Engineer Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, plan, and create mechanical designs for products
• Come up with testing procedure, test, and validate the tests
• Produce working prototypes for demonstration and beta testing
• Undertake engineering calculations to be used in design work
• Collaborate with mechanical drafters and engineering teams
• Perform documentation to keep track of the product development
• Create and review technical documents and drawings using CAD software

Mechanical Engineer Certifications

• Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE) Certification: certified by SME
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE): certified by ASQ
• Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP): certified by INCOSE
• Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Revit for Mechanical Design
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Inventor for Mechanical Design
• Autodesk Certified Associate in CAD for Mechanical Design
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Design for Manufacturing
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Simulation for Static Stress Analysis (using Fusion 360)
• Autodesk Certified Expert in Generative Design for Manufacturing (using Fusion 360)
• Autodesk Certified Expert in CAM for Multi-Axis Milling (using Fusion 360)

About Mechanical Engineering/Engineers

Mechanical engineers design, develop and test mechanical devices such as tools, engines and machines. They design machines and processes to solve practical problems—this could range from aircraft, to hydraulic systems, to computer circuits. These engineers will develop their designs, and test the prototypes—analyzing the results and making changes where required.

2. Electrical Engineer

Average Salary: $107,890

Electrical Engineer Responsibilities

• Generate electrical systems’ designs, reports, and design narratives
• Create and maintain electrical designs
• Use advanced product design and analytical (CAD and CAE) software
• Supervise the work of technicians and electrical drafters
• Present technical briefings
• Help in the development of new products, systems, and processes
• Develop and help maintain project timelines and budgets
• Develop and oversee test programs
• Create brief technical reports for customers
• Ensure adherence to best design practices

Electrical Engineer Certification

• Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP): certified by INCOSE
• Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP): certified by INCOSE
• Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP) certification: certified by INCOSE
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Revit for Electrical Design

About Electrical Engineers

Electrical engineers conceptualize, design, develop, supervise the manufacture of, and test electrical equipment, components, and devices. Their responsibilities involve working with power generators and motors, communication systems, navigation equipment, and electronic systems in aircraft and automobiles.

3. Electronics Engineer

Average Salary: $115,490

Electronics Engineer Responsibilities

• Design, inspect, test, and update electronic systems
• Recommend upgrades and improvements in existing procedures
• Develop and perform maintenance, operational, and testing procedures for electronic equipment
• Prepare design documentation, test reports, and other technical documents
• Write specifications and instructions

Electronics Engineer Certification

• Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma): certified by ETAI
• Project Management Professional (PMP): certified by PMI

About Electronic Engineers

Electronics engineers conceptualize, design, develop, evaluate, and maintain electronic components and systems. While they may be employed by small and large companies that operate in commercial sectors, their day-to-day activities generally include planning, undertaking research, designing, and inspecting equipment. The equipment includes GPS devices, communication and broadcast systems, monitor displays, music players, satellites, flight systems, and more. They are also responsible for electronic devices that are central to the operation of computers, transportation vessels, and aviation (avionics).

4. Civil Engineer

Average Salary: $95,490

Civil Engineer Responsibilities

• Write/review and approve data from surveys, plans, and reports
• Analyze field data, maps, and reports in order to plan and design projects
• Prepare design reports and construction plans based on local standards and codes
• Liaise with the client to define the scope of work and deliverables
• Work with civil drafters and other members of the civil engineering team to produce design drawings using CAD software
• Assess, choose, and apply standard engineering procedures and techniques
• Coordinate and supervise field survey teams and work
• Plan, assign, and oversee the work of the members of the engineering team
• Coordinate with different teams – architects, contractors, engineers, and client – to ensure timely delivery of the project
• Ensure rules, safety standards, and codes are followed throughout the course of a project
• Make presentations
• Come up with and apply engineering solutions to complex problems

Civil Engineer Certification

• Certified Construction Manager (CCM): certified by CMAA
• Project Management Professional (PMP): certified by PMI
• Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Revit for Structural Design
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Civil 3D for Infrastructure Design

About Civil Engineers

Civil engineers design and plan for the construction of building structures and systems in the public and private sector. They also design or plan for infrastructure like roads, railways, airports and irrigation projects. They develop detailed plans for these projects, taking into consideration risk assessment, cost estimates and environmental hazards.

5. Industrial Engineer

Average Salary: $95,200

Industrial Engineer Responsibilities

• Design control systems
• Coordinate activities such as production planning
• Implement quality control procedure to solve quality control issues
• Determine ways to maximise efficiency of service delivery
• Undertake/lead research to determine best location to set up a manufacturing plant
• Design layouts of manufacturing facilities
• Prepare production reports and manage process documentation
• Liaise with other teams to develop design and production standards
• Develop, supervise, and implement process improvements and technological upgrades
• Generate cost analyses, material and equipment lists, and purchase order
• Calculate estimated production costs
• Review specifications, schedules, and procedures

About Industrial Engineers

Industrial engineers focus primarily on efficiency—looking at the ways they can eliminate wastefulness in production processes. They review the basic factors of production like people and machines, to make a product in the most cost-effective way possible. These engineers also look at ways to make financial planning and cost analysis more efficient.

AutoCAD can help engineers determine sources of malfunctions through simulations so they can make any necessary changes.

Image source: sabeercad

Architecture

Software like AutoCAD is very popular in the field of architecture. It can be used to create detailed floor plans and 3D renderings of structures. Furthermore, architects can use the software to analyze a building’s components, or to calculate the load levels of support structures. 

There are different categories of architecture, including:

1. Landscape architecture
2. Naval architecture
3. Architecture (design of buildings)

In this article, however, we will focus our attention on the third category – architecture, which is the most common, and the professionals working in this profession – architects.

1. Architect

Average Salary: $91,900

Architect Responsibilities

• Meeting clients to determine and document their needs
• Oversee design and technical development of a project
• Manage construction project from conceptualisation and design through completion and handover
• Define budget, quality standards, and timelines and manage design and engineering teams to ensure adherence to these parameters
• Manage customer expectations and come up with solutions to complex problems
• Recommend construction approaches and technologies
• Plan for upgrades, repair works, and long-term projects
• Create architectural and network diagrams
• Collaborate with technical team to develop construction phase procedures and design directives
• Develop and implement architectural initiatives that improve efficiency
• Undertake research and feasibility analysis to determine project’s viability

Architect Certifications

• Open Certified Architect (Open CA): certified by the Open Group
• Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting
• Autodesk Certified Professional in Revit for Architectural Design
• Graphisoft Certified ArchiCAD Professional

About Architects

Architects plan and design structures ranging from residential homes, to commercial developments, to office buildings. When they create their designs, they need to take into consideration the materials required, the equipment, the cost, and the construction time. They design structure specifications while taking note of changes or advice from drafters—even visiting the site to ensure that their planned structure will adhere to building regulations. 

AutoCAD can help architects test their structure’s capacity and strength before they produce the real-world structure. It enables them to make constant modifications until the structure is ‘perfect’. 

Image source: sabeercad

Design Jobs in CAD Industry

Designers, like architects, can create 2D models and 3D renderings of their design by making use of the extensive libraries and templates that AutoCAD has to offer. These designs can even include aspects like surface features (windows, doors) and interior features (furniture, color scheme). 

Here are the two most common CAD designer jobs:

1. Interior designer
2. Industrial designer

1. Interior Designer

Average Salary: $62,570

Interior Designer Responsibilities

• Communicate with clients to determine their objectives
• Conceptualize, sketch, and design plans using CAD software
• Undertake in-depth research to assess viability and cost of plans
• Set timelines 
• Create mood boards and storyboards that embody the feel and look of the project
• Inspect work during and after completion
• Select and source appropriate materials and products to be used during the course of the project
• Negotiate fees with product vendors and clients

Interior Design Certifications

• LEED AP Building Design + Construction

About Interior Designers

Interior designers create safe and functional spaces that are also aesthetically pleasing—according to their clients’ needs. They might work on anything from offices, to hotel lobbies, to homes. Their designs will include aspects like color schemes, furnishing styles and even the placement of items. They may even include electrical plans with their designs for construction and installation.

AutoCAD enables interior designers to create detailed images of interior spaces that can then be presented as design concepts to potential clients.

2. Industrial Designer

Average Salary: $79,680

Industrial Designer Responsibilities

• Collaborate with design engineers and industrial drafters directly to convert and package engineering concepts into efficient and compelling products
• Design printed circuit boards (PCB)
• Conceptualize, innovate, design, and implement engineering solutions
• Refine procedures, workflow, and standards to enhance product development process
• Produce visual and functional prototypes for demonstration and testing
• Spearhead ideation, brainstorms, and research into trends, user preferences, technological advancements, and materials that can be incorporated into future products
• Work with consultants when the scope of work is beyond the internal team’s capacity
• Determine product design priorities and strategies in partnership with leadership and management team 
• Understand and maintain knowledge on GMP procedures and ISO standards

About Industrial Designers

Industrial designers create concepts and designs for manufactured products, e.g. cars, toys and home appliances. These designers want their finished products to be both attractive and functional. Their design specifications will usually include both a parts list and an estimated cost.

Industrial designers can use AutoCAD to create their first prototype, where it will then be tested on functionality—allowing designers to make the most cost-effective product they can. Once the prototype is fully functional, the project will finally move to the engineering department for manufacturing. 

Image source: milestone.ac.in

Qualifications and Licenses

How to Become a Drafter

Education

To become a drafter, you need to complete a 2-year associate’s degree in drafting. This can be undertaken at a technical institute, where you will learn sketching, CAD and overall design fundamentals. The courses available vary depending on which institution you choose—some may only specialize in a particular field of drafting such as electrical drafting.

To prepare for this education, potential drafters in high school might want to consider classes involving mathematics, science, computer technology and drafting.

Once the associate’s degree is complete, graduates may either go straight into a job, or continue their education in a 4-year course at college or university for a bachelor’s degree. Most colleges don’t offer specific courses for drafting, but it is possible to take classes in engineering, mathematics or architecture—all of which will further your skills in drafting. Typical courses in this program include mathematics, algebra, physics and engineering. Drafters will also need to have a strong knowledge and experience with CAD/CADD technology.

It’s possible to go on to attain a master’s degree, which could be beneficial—it might make you stand out to potential employers.

Licenses and Certifications

Licenses aren’t mandatory for drafters, however the American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) does offer certification. ADDA certification is valuable in that it highlights your competence and knowledge of drafting. These certifications can be offered in a variety of drafting specialties like mechanical, civil, architectural or electrical drafting. Autodesk also offers several certifications.

How to Become an Engineer

Education

Mechanical Engineer

To become a mechanical engineer, you need a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology. Mechanical engineering programs include courses in mathematics, life and physical sciences, and engineering and design. Mechanical engineering technology focuses less on theory and more on practical application. Some colleges or universities allow students to obtain a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in a 5 year program. 

Electrical and Electronics Engineer

To become an electrical and/or electronics engineer, you need a a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and/or a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering.

Civil Engineer

To become a civil engineer, you need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or in civil engineering technology. The program includes courses in mathematics, statistics, engineering mechanics and fluid dynamics. Around 1 in 4 civil engineers have a master’s degree—so further education is a desirable qualification in this field. 

Industrial Engineer

To become an industrial engineer, you need a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or in a different field of engineering like mechanical or electrical. The program typically involves courses in statistics, production systems planning, and manufacturing systems design. As with mechanical engineering, it is possible to get a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a 5 year program.

Licenses

In the field of engineering, it isn’t compulsory to obtain a license—at least, for entry-level job positions. If you’re interested in going for management roles or higher, you will often be required to obtain a Professional Engineering (PE) license which allows for higher levels of leadership. 

To obtain a PE license, candidates have to complete the following steps: 

• Earn a degree from an accredited ABET engineering program
• Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
• Complete 4 years of work experience under a PE
• Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam

As an engineer, you can also obtain additional certifications, subject to passing an exam. In some instances, you must work for a minimum number of years to be eligible for the exam as is the case with the CMfgE.

How to Become an Architect

Education

To become an architect, you first need a bachelor’s degree in architecture. These programs can be 5 years for those with no training, and a master’s degree can take 1 to 5 years more in addition. This program usually involves courses in architectural history and theory, building design with an emphasis on CAD and CADD, and construction methods. The second step to becoming an architect is to gain at least 3 years of experience in a paid internship. 

Licenses

The last step to becoming an architect is sitting for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). All architects need to be licensed, so this is compulsory. A growing number of architects also seek further certification from NCARB, as it can make it easier to become licensed across certain states. 

How to Become an Interior Designer

Education

To become an interior designer, you need a bachelor’s degree in interior design, or in another field with classes in interior design, drawing and CAD. The candidate needs to choose their college/school carefully to ensure they can take relevant courses to becoming an interior designer. Applicants may also be required to submit sketches or other examples showing artistic ability in order to gain admission into interior design programs. 

Licenses

Licensing can vary with interior design. In some states you can only use the title ‘Interior Designer’ if you’ve passed a state-approved exam like the NCIDQ. To be eligible for this particular exam, applicants need to have a bachelor’s degree in interior design and 2 years worth of experience. There’s also the opportunity for voluntary certification, which allows designers to demonstrate their own level of expertise in a certain are of interior design.

How to Become an Industrial Designer

Education

To become an industrial designer, you need a bachelor’s degree in industrial design, architecture or engineering. The program often includes courses like drawing, CAD and CADD, 3D modeling and industrial materials. It’s also important for applicants to build up an electronic portfolio over the years with their best design projects. 

Licenses

Industrial designers don’t need to have a license or certification. However, some designers do opt to continue their education by completing a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree which can help them further their skills, e.g. by understanding how to fit their designs to meet cost limitations. 

Essential Statistics and Job Information

To make things easier for you, we’ve put together a table summarizing all of the essential statistics and information that you might want to know about AutoCAD careers. We’ve included the median annual salary, the required qualifications and any necessary licenses. We’ve even added the projected job growth percentage for the next 10 years so you can see what your opportunities might be like in the future. 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pros & Cons of AutoCAD Careers

Thinking of taking a career in AutoCAD? Check out the pros and cons below, to see if an AutoCAD career really is the right fit for you…

Pros

• Industries across all sectors require AutoCAD experts or technicians
• Some AutoCAD jobs only require an associate’s degree, which can be completed in 2 years
• Some AutoCAD jobs can be done remotely
• A 40-hour week can be the norm for AutoCAD technicians
• There’s always room for career advancement

Cons

• Jobs involving CAD/CADD involve files that can be sent online. So these jobs can therefore be outsourced to other countries where employers can pay lower wages.
• Jobs like drafting can be tied to the economy, so during recessions many can be laid off.
• Some AutoCAD jobs require further education for career advancement, which can be timely and costly.
• Job growth is dependent on which field you’re working in, as seen in the table above. 
• Some AutoCAD careers like drafting can cause eyestrain and wrist discomfort after a prolonged time period. 

Obviously, the pros and cons are all dependent upon which career path you take. Typically, engineers will be able to reap more benefits than drafters—although this is due to factors like higher qualifications and so forth. It’s up to you to research into your chosen area, to see if it really is the right fit for you.

Where to Find AutoCAD Jobs…

As with most job-searching, you can look for AutoCAD jobs on any online job database. To make things easier for you, we’ve put together a list of our top 6 job sites for you to use:

1. Indeed
2. Career Builder
3. Career Jet
4. Search American Jobs
5. Glassdoor
6. LinkedIn

Once you’ve picked a job site from the list above, you can start your job search. It’s quite simple really—type in your relevant keyword, e.g. ‘AutoCAD‘ or ‘Drafting‘, and you’ll be given a list of all the relevant jobs out there.

Of course, you can then refine your search by location, salary, job type and even experience level. It takes just minutes to find a job relevant for you—take a look at our GIF below if you don’t believe us! You could have a job to apply for in minutes!

These job sites are just the tip of the iceberg—it’s possible to search with other resources, as the sites listed above were just our top picks. Don’t forget to take your time to research each job, and make sure that if you apply for a job, you’ve got the necessary qualifications or credentials. There are plenty of AutoCAD career opportunities out there—so don’t rush.

Conclusion

So, as you can see, there are many AutoCAD career options available across the drafting, engineering, architecture and design sectors. The success and growth of your AutoCAD career however, ultimately depends on how much you’re willing to do in regards to your education, and which sector you’re interested in specializing in.

While it’s plain to see that some careers will see better job growth than others, e.g. civil engineers at 8%, it’s still obvious that there’s plenty of opportunity. If you really are interested in pursuing an AutoCAD career, it’s vital that you do your research—check out our essential statistics and information, and don’t forget to look into possible schools or colleges for any necessary courses or qualifications. 

Despite the many difficulties with the unsteady job market and economy, one thing still remains clear—AutoCAD careers are expanding and increasing with each year that goes by. As the AutoCAD software evolves, so too does the AutoCAD job market. 

Alternatively if you’re more interested in freelance work, you should take a look at Freelance CAD — Everything You Need To Know.