A versatile skill set, CAD design enables many industries to save time and cut costs creating precision designs that function well when produced. Designers who choose to learn CAD design can look forward to a future with comfortable pay and plenty of potential employers. More than ever before CAD Designers with expertise in machine learning and AI are being sought after, and this trend is likely to continue. However, tech is just one of many industries looking to hire CAD Designers. In this article, you’ll learn about other potential avenues, explore statistics, and get advice on how to land your first CAD job. 

What is a CAD Designer?

Using computer-aided design (CAD) software, CAD Designers produce technical drawings for advanced projects. In addition to two-dimensional surface drawings, CAD Designers also create three-dimensional models. Ultimately, CAD drawings and models make it easier for people in many industries to transform conceptual designs into functional objects, products, and spaces.

To help fulfill this end, CAD models may be used in many different ways, from visualization and analysis to manufacturing. The projects their models forward also involve various disciplines, including civil engineering and architecture, medical equipment, electronics, vehicles, fashion, and games. From among these subjects, CAD Designers typically select one area to specialize in for the duration of their careers. 

To ensure their models provide functional results, CAD Designers generally work alongside Architects, Engineers, Scientists, and other Designers. Outside of this, you’ll find CAD Designers working in relatively unique work environments. While most CAD Designers maintain a standard full-time work schedule, they’re often at liberty to choose between working in-person, remotely, or as independent freelancers. 

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The businesses that commonly employ CAD Designers include:

  • Architecture firms
  • Civil engineering companies
  • Construction companies
  • Energy and utility companies
  • Fashion houses
  • Manufacturing facilities (especially those emphasizing mechanical, electronic, medical, and aviation manufacturing)
  • Tech companies

What is the Job Outlook for CAD Design?

It’s easy to look at statistics and misinterpret them to mean that CAD Design is a dying industry, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. More accurately, recent statistics reflect complex advancements in how CAD design is being integrated in many different industries. To learn how these changes actually reveal a bright future for CAD design, keep reading. 

Job Outlook

Initially, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that CAD Designer jobs would grow by 8% from 2016 to 2026. This number has since proven an overestimate, with statistics now revealing drafting positions are declining by 1% each year. Believe it or not, however, these newer statistics aren’t something to panic about, as they largely reflect a shift in employer expectations toward job qualifications, rather than a true decline in job openings. 

Put simply, it’s more cost-effective for employers to hire one worker who can tackle a wider range of tasks than to hire two workers to complete the same checklist. Consequently, CAD Design-only roles are now being combined with more multidisciplinary roles. For instance, Mechanical Engineers and Industrial Designers now practice CAD design as part of a larger skill set and are considered part of the CAD design job spectrum. 

In contrast to simpler CAD design roles, these multidisciplinary CAD roles are seeing many new job openings each year. Between 2023 and 2033, CAD Designers working in industrial or fashion design will see a 3-5% increase in new job openings (which aligns with the average for most industries). Meanwhile, roles in game design will expand by 8%, and positions in mechanical engineering will grow by 11%. 

Future Growth

Because CAD design is so important to so many industries, demand for the skill will remain alive and well for many years. In 2023, the CAD Design industry produced $11.53 billion in revenue and is expected ​​to hit $18.40 in 2030 with an annual growth of 6.9%. This reflects the continued high demand for CAD design services despite changes in the way the industry operates. 

Industries

If you initially became interested in CAD design through one particular niche, you might be surprised to discover just how broadly applicable it is. Because 2D and 3D renderings help prevent costly (and potentially dangerous) mistakes while also saving time, many industries have found ways to integrate CAD design into their design projects. For instance, CAD Design plays an important role in aerospace and defense, industrial machinery, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, automotive, and construction. 

In 2023, the top industries using CAD tools include:

  • Technical services like architecture and engineering (employing 52% of all CAD Designers)
  • Manufacturing (employing 20% of all CAD Designers)
  • Construction (employing 11% of all CAD Designers)

5% of CAD Designers also worked as self-employed contractors in various industries. This number is expected to grow by almost 1% over the next decade. Similarly, construction, electronics, and utilities will likely also add many new CAD Designers to their workforces in the coming years. 

CAD Design Salaries

If you pursue a CAD design career, many factors may influence your salary, including where you live and work. Data from Indeed.com indicates that most CAD Designers based in the United States earn between $56,000 and $89,000 annually. This means that despite working a creative job, you’ll earn about the same salary as someone in a standard industry like marketing. However, in some locations, you may earn a higher or lower salary due to demand. For example, CAD Designers in Honolulu, Hawaii earn a slightly lower salary of $53,000 to $83,000, and this doesn’t factor in the city’s high cost of living. 

Your qualifications and education will also have a big impact on your earnings. Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that no matter what industry you work in, having a college degree will earn you a higher salary. Similarly, you may earn more if you have one or more CAD-related certifications to your name. Because qualifications (and demand) can vary considerably from specialty to specialty, your unique job role will also influence your paycheck. Some examples include: 

  • CAD Designer ($56,000-89,000)
  • Mechanical Engineer ($80,000-117,000) 
  • Product Designer ($93,000-160,000)
  • Industrial Designer ($66,000-107,000)
  • Game Designer ($96,000-131,000
  • UI Designer ($74,000-119,000)
  • UX Designer ($104,000-158,000)

In addition to your specialty, the actual industry you work in may also affect how much money you earn. According to Glassdoor’s pay index, the ten highest-earning industries for CAD Designers are:

  • Information technology ($103,000-137,000)
  • Finance and insurance ($80,000-$112,000)
  • Government and public administration: $84,000-109,000)
  • Aerospace and defense ($82,000-106,000)
  • Personal consumer services ($83,000-105,000)
  • Management and consulting ($81,000-105,000)
  • Healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and biotech ($76,000-105,000)
  • Media and communications ($76,000-101,000)
  • Manufacturing ($​​76,000-97,000)
  • Education ($76,000-96,000)

How Do I Find a CAD Designer Job?

Start by Preparing for Success

Give yourself a strong chance of success by starting your job search with solid qualifications. Because necessary skills can vary from one CAD design job to another, knowing where you want to end up can help you tailor your training and preparation to the right job. For example, you’d need different skills as a CAD Technician than you would as a Mechanical Engineer who emphasizes CAD. 

Despite this variability, there are several key application components that almost all CAD design jobs require. These include:

The experience required to get a CAD Designer job varies significantly from position to position, with basic entry-level roles even offering on-the-job training to beginners. For more complex CAD Designer job titles (such as Drafter, Mechanical Engineer, or Product Designer), you’ll need between two and five years of relevant experience. 

Search for Jobs Strategically

When you’re fully ready to start work, be sure to cast your search net wide. Rather than looking for jobs only in one place, you utilize multiple job markets for a better chance at finding work. For example, you can build digital authority for yourself using a personal portfolio website and job websites like LinkedIn, while simultaneously pooling advice from forum users on platforms like Reddit. 

According to experts, the following can help you find a CAD design job: 

  • Explore job sites that were created specifically for your industry, whether that’s design, engineering, IT, or even freelancing. 
  • Participate in professional organizations (such as the American Design Drafting Association, or ADDA).
  • Treat internships, classes, and volunteer projects as opportunities to solidify your portfolio and create long-term professional connections. 
  • Attend a wide variety of events, including both formal events (conferences, job fairs, and trade shows) and casual ones (local design get-togethers and Meetups). 

Learn the Skills to Become a CAD Designer at Noble Desktop

Learn CAD Design in a confidence-boosting environment where experts can guide you through every step of mastering the leading CAD drafting software. Noble Desktop’s hands-on AutoCAD courses are offered in a traditional NYC classroom as well as in a flexible live online format. They come in a variety of levels (from beginner to advanced) to allow for maximum customization and always rely on task-oriented projects to teach skills. Additionally, all courses feature a small class size to ensure you receive plenty of one-on-one attention from your instructor. 

If you’re looking for a short introductory course or want to split your training into chunks, the AutoCAD Level I course will get you started on the right track. In this course, you’ll explore projects that will get you comfortable using precision drawing tools. You’ll learn how to use a variety of beginner features, from drawing templates to layers, blocks, layouts, annotations, and hatching. Before you’re finished, you’ll also learn how to edit and print your drawing. Because this class was designed as part of a series, you’ll be ready to move on to AutoCAD Level II (and later, Level III) when you graduate. 

To cover the same ground more quickly, you may prefer to sign up for the AutoCAD Bootcamp. In addition to covering all the beginner skills from AutoCAD Level I, this course covers intermediate skills from AutoCAD Level II. To create more complex images, you’ll learn how to utilize tracking points, construction lines, and external references. You’ll also learn how to integrate data tables into your drawings and customize layouts for specific projects. 

Want to master AutoCAD software comprehensively? The AutoCAD Masterclass includes skills from AutoCAD Levels I-III, allowing you to advance from beginner to pro in one course. After exploring beginner skills in the first unit of the course, you’ll start tackling intermediate skills in tandem with productivity strategies. In the last unit of the class, you’ll navigate a variety of advanced subjects, including user interface customization, dynamic blocks, text objects and tables, dynamic attributes, and publication. With these skills, you’ll be prepared to take on a variety of entry-level professional CAD projects. 

To receive the same comprehensive training and earn an official AutoCAD certification, sign up for the AutoCAD Certification Program. In addition to skills training, this course includes private tutoring and proctorship for The Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design & Drafting exam.

Self-Guided CAD Programs

Students who are looking to make a career out of using CAD tools might also be interested in their options for career focused, self guided classes. These courses allow students to learn at their own pace (with guidance and assistance from a professional mentor) and they provide students with career-focused training and job placement support. While many students find it desirable to learn from a live instructor, these self-paced classes are the perfect fit for self-motivated students looking to make a career out of their CAD training.

AutoCAD Certificate Program

The Visual Design and Construction Institute (VDCI) offers an immersive AutoCAD certificate program that aims to help students become career ready within only a few weeks of training. This program provides students with hands-on, job-focused training in the use of AutoCAD and the course is designed with new students in mind, meaning that you’ll move from your first construction draft to a capstone project to add to your professional portfolio over the course of the certificate program. This program also offers students the opportunity to take up to 80 hours of electives to help them specialize in subjects including Revit, Sketchup and Civil 3D Pro. With this option for specialization and the focus on career development training, this certificate program is an ideal entry point for aspiring designers, architects and engineers looking to learn how to use AutoCAD in a professional capacity.

AutoCAD Fundamentals

Students looking for an accelerated introduction to AutoCAD and computer-aided design generally may be interested in taking this introductory course offered by VDCI. Students will learn the basics of using AutoCAD and practical skills that they can bring back to their current jobs or use as the baseline for future CAD training (including some of the other advanced classes offered through VDCI). In this class, students will get live, hands-on instruction in the use of AutoCAD, including exercises in which they create drafting symbols, kitchens and bath fixtures, a floor plan, and deliverable file sheets. While you’ll need more training if you want to make a career out of your AutoCAD skills, this course is an excellent introduction to the kinds of projects that AutoCAD professionals will need to utilize.

AutoCAD Professional

If you have already taken the AutoCAD fundamentals program or you have experience with AutoCAD from another source, you may be interested in moving towards professional level training in this advanced AutoCAD program. In this program, students will learn how to create 2D designs for construction documents that meet all of the necessary and legal standards that they are expected to follow. This course offers practical skills training and is designed to ensure that experienced AutoCAD users are able to get the accelerated training that they need in order to start using the application in more complex professional capacities. This course is built to help students learn at their own pace and class scheduling is incredibly flexible for professionals looking to develop new skills while still working.

SketchUp Fundamentals

This course provides students with the foundational SketchUp skills needed to start working on a wide variety of CAD projects, including collaborative design projects. This course covers introductory and intermediate SketchUp skills that are useful for designers in almost any professional field and you’ll learn how to design and blueprint the interior and exterior of private and commercial buildings. This course serves as an excellent introduction to professional SketchUp uses and you’ll be able to start working with the application in a professional capacity and have laid the groundwork for future, advanced SketchUp training. This is a bundled package of the Introduction to SketchUp Pro and Intermediate SketchUp Pro courses, which can be enrolled in separately. This course also comes with access to the SketchUp Pro application.