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The differences between computer aided design designers and designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a computer aided design designer, becoming a designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a designer has an average salary of $66,347, which is higher than the $60,150 average annual salary of a computer aided design designer.
The top three skills for a computer aided design designer include auto cad, revit and aided design. The most important skills for a designer are sketch, customer service, and graphic design.
| Computer Aided Design Designer | Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $60,150 | $66,347 |
| Hourly rate | $28.92 | $31.90 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 92,503 | 52,433 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A computer-aided design (CAD) designer is responsible for creating plan outlines and project designs for a specific business need. A CAD designer utilizes various technologies and software applications to generate graphic illustrations. CAD designers must have strong knowledge of the technology designs, software management, engineering standards, and the construction industry fundamentals. CAD designers label their works with appropriate dimensions and specifications, performing necessary adjustments to meet the clients' needs. A CAD designer requires excellent critical-thinking and analytical skills to manage design structures and creative solutions.
A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.
Computer aided design designers and designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Aided Design Designer | Designer | |
| Average salary | $60,150 | $66,347 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $89,000 | Between $45,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a computer aided design designer and a designer in terms of educational background:
| Computer Aided Design Designer | Designer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | LeTourneau University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between computer aided design designers' and designers' demographics:
| Computer Aided Design Designer | Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% | Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 13% |