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What is a cadd technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

In the twenty-first century, design work is no longer done with a pencil, a ruler, and a compass. Instead, most companies rely on Computer-Aided Design or CAD software to design and model their products. A CADD Technician is somebody who knows how to use these software programs to create models.

CADD technicians can use CAD software to model everything from prototypes to houses. They make 2D or 3D models of drawings that engineers or architects design, bringing their vision one step closer to reality. Some CADD technicians even work with 3D printers if their offices are fancy.

CADD technicians are in high demand, especially in architectural and construction firms. In fact, the need for CADD technicians is expected to grow by 5% by 2028. With an associate's degree in drafting or sometimes even a bachelor's degree, a person could make a solid career in this growing field.

ScoreCadd TechnicianUS Average
Salary
4.2

Avg. Salary $53,449

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
6.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.69%

Asian 7.45%

Black or African American 9.57%

Hispanic or Latino 16.88%

Unknown 4.89%

White 60.53%

Gender

female 23.17%

male 76.83%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
5.6

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.2

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Cadd technician career paths

Key steps to become a cadd technician

  1. Explore cadd technician education requirements

    Most common cadd technician degrees

    Associate

    58.4 %

    Bachelor's

    28.4 %

    High School Diploma

    5.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific cadd technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Revit12.83%
    Civil 3D10.99%
    GIS6.65%
    Engineering Drawings6.59%
    Civil Engineering6.38%
  3. Complete relevant cadd technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cadd technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cadd technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cadd technician resumes.
  4. Research cadd technician duties and responsibilities

    • Manage Autodesk accounts and train drafters and field crews as well.
    • Initiate and manage use of GPS for mapping, stakeout, construction management, as-builting, ground-truthing pipeline construction projects.
    • Edit and maintain GIS data as reflected in metes and bounds legal descriptions, land surveys, and plait subdivisions.
    • Maintain and update 3D models using REVIT and AutoCAD.
  5. Prepare your cadd technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cadd technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cadd technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable cadd technician resume templates

    Build a professional cadd technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your cadd technician resume.
    Cadd Technician Resume
    Cadd Technician Resume
    Cadd Technician Resume
    Cadd Technician Resume
    Cadd Technician Resume
    Cadd Technician Resume
    Cadd Technician Resume
    Cadd Technician Resume
    Cadd Technician Resume
  6. Apply for cadd technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a cadd technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first cadd technician job

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Average cadd technician salary

The average cadd technician salary in the United States is $53,449 per year or $26 per hour. Cadd technician salaries range between $40,000 and $70,000 per year.

Average cadd technician salary
$53,449 Yearly
$25.70 hourly

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How do cadd technicians rate their job?

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Cadd technician reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

Love taking something that can't be used and giving it life again...


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Pros

comfortable environment

Cons

stressful work. negative response is related in anyway to the job you'll be doing. So if the job is boring and a lot of repetitive tasks are involved and you say you don't like to do something daily they might weed you out. My answer would be, I really can't think of something I dislike doing every single day. Just because they ask the question doesn't mean you have to have a negative answer!


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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