CAD Designer Related Career Paths

The introduction should mention that CAD design is part of a greater field of careers under a specific category (design, marketing, coding, finance, etc.). If you are looking to pivot to a different career or find a career with some key differences, read on to learn about some options.

CAD design is just one career path that those interested in design, engineering, or architecture can pursue. While these fields are all, in some way, focused on planning and designing buildings, products, structures, or other materials, there are also important ways to distinguish between jobs like Engineer, CAD Designer, Architect, and Graphic Designer. As you decide which career to pursue, consider your own interests as well as important factors like pay, education, and work-life balance. Read on to learn more about career paths related to CAD design and the key differences between them. 

What is a CAD Designer?

A CAD Designer is a skilled professional trained in using computer software to create and refine designs of buildings, structures, machines, and manufactured parts and products. CAD Designers work in a variety of industries including architecture, automotive, construction, engineering, manufacturing, and textiles. The role of a CAD Designer is important to many companies because it is their drawings and models that get created and turned into physical objects and structures. Because of this, CAD Designers need to have strong attention to detail and communication skills so that their designs are accurate and meet the exacting requirements specified by various stakeholders. 

The job of a CAD Designer is skills-based, meaning that one’s skills, technical abilities, and industry experience are prioritized over having a specific college or university degree. While some industries may look for a CAD Designer to have at least an Associate’s degree or training from a vocational school, most employers will also accept three to five years of on-the-job experience instead of a specific degree. CAD Designers need to know how to draft, use math and engineering principles, and be particularly adept at using industry-specific 2D and 3D CAD software, Microsoft Office, and any other project management software required by the organizations they work for. These professionals will work collaboratively as part of a larger team that can include Architects, Engineers, Surveyors, and other Drafters and Designers.

Engineer

Engineers use math, science, and technology to design, invent, and maintain products, structures, and machines. Engineers can find themselves working in a variety of industries and some of the most common are aerospace, software, biomedical, mechanical, electrical, civil, environmental, and chemical. Many see Engineers as problem solvers, given that one of their key roles in any industry is to use their technical knowledge and education to solve industry-specific challenges and ensure that things are working correctly and meet industry standards and codes. 

Like CAD Designers, learning drafting and technical drawing will be a key part of an Engineer's education. Engineers will also oversee and work closely with CAD Designers and Drafters so that they can create functional designs and complete projects. One of the main differences between an Engineer and a CAD Designer is that Engineers need a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field and will often need further education and additional degrees to advance in their careers. Engineers will also command higher pay than CAD Designers and many engineering roles are in demand, such as those of Software Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Data Engineers, and Alternative Energy Engineers. For more information about software and data engineering, in particular, consider reading more about why you should learn software engineering. 

Architect

An Architect is responsible for planning and creating designs for buildings and different kinds of structures. Architects and Engineers can find themselves working on the same team in similar industries, though some Architects will also design buildings and plan renovations for individuals, and many Architects work to bring together functionality and aesthetics in their designs. Like CAD Designers, Architects also need to be detail-oriented and will receive training in drafting by hand and using CAD software. While it might seem like architecture and civil engineering are the same thing, Architects are responsible for designing buildings and Civil Engineers will usually focus more on infrastructure and utilities. 

To become an Architect, you will often need five to seven years of education. Most Architects have a Bachelor’s degree in architecture and it is common to gain initial experience by doing an internship. Architects need to fulfill additional requirements that CAD Designers do not, including passing the Architect Registration Exam so that they can be licensed by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and Architects will also need to be licensed in the state they intend to work in. Though this might sound somewhat onerous, licensed and experienced Architects enjoy high pay and stable careers. 

Graphic Designer

A Graphic Designer uses visual components like color, shape, line, and text to communicate a message to an audience. Many Graphic Designers work in advertising, marketing, and web design though it is common to find Graphic Designers designing promotional and informational materials for individuals and businesses in any industry. While it is common for someone pursuing graphic design to get a university degree, you can become a Graphic Designer without a degree by developing a strong design portfolio and amassing experience as a Designer. 

Both CAD design and graphic design focus on creative design principles, however, graphic design pays more attention to the look and aesthetics of something whereas CAD design often focuses more on functionality and utility. This means that those more interested in creating logos, product packaging, advertisements, or even the layout of webpages should pursue a career in graphic design instead of CAD design. Some Graphic Designers in specialized industries like aeroscience and manufacturing use AutoCAD because it can allow them to create more precise 2D and 3D assets. However, Graphic Designers typically learn different software, like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, in comparison to CAD Designers. 

User Experience Designer

Another career that may be of interest to a CAD Designer is User Experience Designer or UX Designer. Those in this position can also be called Product Designers. This is a job that focuses on how consumers or end-users interact with and use a product or service. UX Designers can work in a variety of industries, from those that manufacture physical products or design civil infrastructure to those who work in web, software, and game design. 

UX Designer is another design-focused role that employs different skillsets than those of a CAD Designer. This is a good career for someone who loves the detail-oriented and problem-solving nature of CAD design but who also has an inclination toward creating prototypes, testing products, and researching the user experience. While someone can become a UX Designer without a degree, many UX Designers got their start in graphic design or fine arts before starting to work in UX design. 

Product Manager

A CAD Designer’s collaboration, communication, and leadership skills can thrive in the role of a Product Manager. Product Managers are less focused on creating designs themselves, instead, they will need to help oversee the design process of various products. Product Managers are in a unique spot in that they have to use their leadership skills and authority to communicate a shared vision for a product and get all team members and stakeholders working toward enacting that vision. 

Product Manager is an in-demand, growing, and high-paying role and most who become Product Managers will have a degree in business management or a related field. With more education and training, someone who starts as a CAD Designer could transition into becoming a Product Manager as they will know the ins and outs of a product’s design and functionality. Additionally, a CAD Designer’s experience in budgeting, managing resources, coordinating team members, and being detail-oriented will carry over into being a Product Manager. 

How to Decide Which Career is Right for You

There are a number of factors to consider when deciding which career and career path is right for you. These include your own interests, what kind of path or advancement you are looking for, your desired yearly income, how much education you are willing to pursue, and what kind of work-life balance you envision. While CAD design can be a good career for those interested in drafting, design, a 40-hour workweek, and meaningful career advancement, there are valid reasons to pursue other, similar careers with different benefits. 

First, consider your interests. Most CAD Designers start with a love of or interest in drafting and have a natural inclination to work in a certain type of industry, like automotive, civil engineering, or mechanical engineering. For those who enjoy creating precise, technical drawings of products, buildings, or structures, CAD Design can be a stable, fulfilling career with a clear path to advancement from Drafter to Designer and then into manager and lead roles. However, for someone who enjoys the design aspect of CAD software but wants to employ more creative freedom with color, shapes, or different styles, a career as a Graphic Designer or even a UX Designer might be a better fit. 

Pay and work-life balance are additional factors that one should take into account. While entry-level CAD Designers make around the average yearly salary in the US, as one moves up and advances to higher leadership roles, one’s pay will increase, as well. CAD Designers also enjoy a 40-hour workweek with plenty of time for work-life balance. Someone who wants to start out with a higher yearly salary, however, might consider pursuing a career like Engineer or Architect. These professionals also work with CAD software, so there is a natural skillset overlap, but those wanting to become an Engineer or Architect will have to spend more time and money to get the right degree or licensing necessary to work in these roles.

Learn the Skills to Become a CAD Designer at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers a variety of in-person and live online classes that will teach prospective CAD Designers the skills they need to learn to be successful designers, workers, and leaders. Those wanting to learn CAD Design can find AutoCAD classes for every skill level and might also be interested in Noble’s Microsoft Office and project management classes. Every Noble class provides hands-on training from an expert instructor and class sizes are kept small so that students can receive individual attention and feedback. In-person classes are available at Noble Desktop’s Manhattan facility and live online classes can be taken from anywhere. 

Those pursuing a career in CAD Design will be particularly interested in Noble’s AutoCAD classes. If you are unsure whether learning AutoCAD is right for you, consider starting with the six-hour Introduction to AutoCAD class. This one-day class will teach basic drawing and editing techniques using AutoCAD and get complete beginners started using this software. To become proficient in AutoCAD, learners will want to take Noble Desktop’s more comprehensive or advanced AutoCAD classes, bootcamps, and certificate programs. Noble Desktop’s AutoCAD Bootcamp is a great way for beginners to learn up to intermediate-level AutoCAD quickly. Bootcamps are accelerated classes and they are one of the best options for those who want to get started using AutoCAD right away to learn necessary, career-oriented skills. 

Bootcamps are not right for every learner and prospective CAD Designers can also take individual AutoCAD classes or sign up for a masterclass to take all three levels of AutoCAD back-to-back. Beginners can take, intermediate learners can take, and advanced learners should take. Beginner-friendly AutoCAD Level I focuses on drawing fundamentals and teaches students how to organize, edit, annotate, and prepare drawings for printing. AutoCAD Level II for intermediate learners adds to this knowledge to teach students advanced and customizable layer techniques, how to create, edit, and store blocks, and how to work with external references and create data tables. Advanced learners should take AutoCAD Level III which focuses on training students how to complete AutoCAD projects from start to finish and provides advanced training in how to use the tools necessary for each project and how to use AutoCAD’s collaboration features. Those who want to take all three classes sequentially should look into signing up for the AutoCAD Masterclass. 

Beginners and those with AutoCAD experience interested in becoming an Autodesk Certified Professional should look to enroll in the AutoCAD Certification Program. This complete program of study provides beginning, intermediate, and advanced training in AutoCAD, six hours of private one-on-one tutoring, and the Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design & Drafting exam with a free retake option. Certifications are a great way to prove to employers that you have the skills necessary to be a CAD Designer and some will require certification for employment or advancement in one’s career. 

Noble offers two 3D modeling classes that CAD Designers should also consider, 3D Modeling in AutoCAD and SketchUp Pro Bootcamp. Both classes will allow students to learn how to turn 2D drawings into 3D models and will teach the foundation of 3D modeling and editing in their respective software programs. 3D Modeling in AutoCAD requires students to have familiarity with 2D drawing and teaches learners to create solids and surfaces from 2D objects and to use more advanced features of AutoCAD to edit, visualize, and refine the view of one’s models. No previous experience is necessary for the two-day SketchUp Pro Bootcamp which will walk students through the steps of creating a 3D model, working with shapes, solid tools, and text, and exporting and rending one’s 3D model.