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The differences between cadd drafters and structural designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a cadd drafter, becoming a structural designer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a structural designer has an average salary of $63,273, which is higher than the $49,161 average annual salary of a cadd drafter.
The top three skills for a cadd drafter include civil 3d, civil design and shop drawings. The most important skills for a structural designer are revit, structural design, and BIM.
| Cadd Drafter | Structural Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $49,161 | $63,273 |
| Hourly rate | $23.64 | $30.42 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 2,268 | 51,432 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
A CAAD drafter specializes in producing technical drafts and designs for different industries, such as manufacturing, automotive, and even construction. They primarily use computer-aided special software to develop new sketches, enhancing existing designs when necessary. Their duties include meeting with clients or managers to identify and understand project requirements, conducting research and analyses, creating drafts for client approval, and revising drafts as necessary. Moreover, as a CAAD drafter, it is essential to coordinate and maintain an open communication line with engineers and team members for a smooth and efficient workflow.
A Structural Designer designs, develops, and supervises the construction of new buildings and bridges, or extensions to existing properties or other structures. They review and update construction drawings as well as communicate project problems and flaws to managers.
Cadd drafters and structural designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cadd Drafter | Structural Designer | |
| Average salary | $49,161 | $63,273 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $47,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Tesla |
| Best paying industry | - | Construction |
There are a few differences between a cadd drafter and a structural designer in terms of educational background:
| Cadd Drafter | Structural Designer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between cadd drafters' and structural designers' demographics:
| Cadd Drafter | Structural Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% |
| 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, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.8% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |