Over the past few years the demand for trained professionals seeking CAD (computer aided design) jobs has grown tremendously. Many people who are not familiar with the technology consider it to be little more than designing something in a digital space as opposed to drawing it on paper using more traditional methods. This could not be further from the truth, and in reality there are a wide variety of unique CAD jobs available now and more coming available in the future.
What Types of CAD Jobs Are Out There?
- CAD Drafter – A CAD drafter is someone who prepares technical drawings and plans. These plans are typically then used in engineering projects to produce and construct a finished design. The plans a drafter creates can be used to build anything from the smallest microchip to something as large as a building! Drafters are extremely important because they create the visual guidelines that will be used by a wide array of professionals including scientists, surveyors, and architects.
- CAD Technician – CAD technician positions come in a variety of disciplines including civil, electrical, mechanical, architectural, pipeline, and aeronautics. An aeronautical technician creates plans that will be used in goods such as aircraft; An architectural technician would create plans for buildings, and al electrical technician would create layout diagrams to be used for power plants and communications centers. Civil CAD technicians would create maps that would be used to aid in all kinds of construction projects and utility placement such as electrical and water lines. Pipeline or process piping technicians focus on the layouts of gas fields, refineries, and chemical related projects.
Of course there are other specialties available but these are some of the most prominent.
Working in the CAD Field
CAD drafters and technicians of all types have very similar working environments. Most will operate out of their own office spaces and have most of their work hours spent in front of a computer. For the most part CAD positions are full time or 40+ hours per week as CAD jobs are rarely part time.
Depending on a variety of factors including location and cost of living, a someone working in the Cad field could earn as much as $47,000 a year. Some specialties might earn more depending on the availability of professionals with the required skills to do the job.
The number of trained CAD professionals needed in the workforce is rising and this need is projected to only increase in the coming years.