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The differences between cadd technicians and technical design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a cadd technician, becoming a technical design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a technical design engineer has an average salary of $75,599, which is higher than the $53,449 average annual salary of a cadd technician.
The top three skills for a cadd technician include revit, civil 3d and GIS. The most important skills for a technical design engineer are design drawings, windows, and infrastructure.
| Cadd Technician | Technical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $53,449 | $75,599 |
| Hourly rate | $25.70 | $36.35 |
| Growth rate | - | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 10,447 | 173,548 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 6 |
A CADD technician specializes in using special computer-aided software in producing electronic design plans for machinery and construction. They usually work together with engineers and architects in turning technical sketches and designs into 2D or 3D models. Their responsibilities also include reviewing design drafts, presenting models to clients for approval, and implementing changes or adjustments when necessary. Moreover, they must be proactive at dealing with issues and must maintain an open communication line with team members for an efficient workflow.
A technical design engineer specializes in designing a company's products and systems, ensuring quality and efficiency. Among their responsibilities include performing extensive research and analysis, understanding and identifying the needs of every project, developing prototypes and test structures, and coordinating with experts. There are also instances when they must conduct maintenance checks on current systems, executing repairs when necessary. Furthermore, as a technical design engineer, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating them while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
Cadd technicians and technical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cadd Technician | Technical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $53,449 | $75,599 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $70,000 | Between $49,000 And $116,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rancho Cordova, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Novartis | Western Digital |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between a cadd technician and a technical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Cadd Technician | Technical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between cadd technicians' and technical design engineers' demographics:
| Cadd Technician | Technical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |