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The differences between autocad designers and design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an autocad designer, becoming a design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a design engineer has an average salary of $77,134, which is higher than the $55,786 average annual salary of an autocad designer.
The top three skills for an autocad designer include auto cad, revit and civil engineering. The most important skills for a design engineer are C++, UL, and project management.
| Autocad Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $55,786 | $77,134 |
| Hourly rate | $26.82 | $37.08 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 46,459 | 138,173 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
Typically working in the construction and manufacturing industry, an AutoCAD designer specializes in designing and developing 2D and 3D drawings using AutoCAD software. It is their duty to coordinate with architects and engineers to discuss ideas and project needs, create and prepare designs for client approval, generate models through the AutoCAD software, and prepare progress reports and presentations for the clients. Furthermore, as an AutoCAD designer, it is essential to adhere to the company's standards and regulations, especially the clients' vision.
A design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system's stability and high-quality processes. A design engineer should also have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks and meet deadlines.
Autocad designers and design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Autocad Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $55,786 | $77,134 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $76,000 | Between $57,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between an autocad designer and a design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Autocad Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between autocad designers' and design engineers' demographics:
| Autocad Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.1% Female, 21.9% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |